Three premiership stars will stake their selection claims this week following varied stints on the sidelines.
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West Coast captain Shannon Hurn, run-with expert Mark Hutchings and hard-nosed defender Liam Duggan will be in the mix for Sunday’s clash with Carlton should they get through the club’s main training session on Thursday.
Hurn missed two games with a calf strain, Hutchings has spent four weeks on the sidelines rehabilitating a hamstring injury and Duggan has taken three weeks to overcome a syndesmosis ankle ailment.
Eagles senior physiotherapist Paul Tucker said the exciting trio was ready to go.
“Shannon’s chances of playing this week are quite high,” Tucker said.
“He needs to just complete a training session on Thursday to declare himself available.
“(Hutchings) has been asymptomatic from a hamstring strain over the last couple of weeks. Last week was just a sign off for a few things we hadn’t seen and now we are expecting him to put his hand up this week as well.
“Liam went through a number of tests already this week. He just needs to sign off with a full training session on Thursday.”
Emerging backman Harry Edwards is also ready to come off the club’s injury list following an extended spell in the rehabilitation group.
The 18-year-old will line up against his former WAFL club, Swan Districts, at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.
“Harry has put together a couple of weeks of full training now coming off a longer term injury,” Tucker said.
“We expect him to also put up a hand to be available this weekend.”
In more positive news, Jamie Cripps (adductor) is just one week away from being available for selection.
“Jamie has been going really well with his rehabilitation program and currently we expect him to fully recover from his adductor injury perhaps in time to play next week,” Tucker said.
The news is not as good for rookie defender Brodie Riach, who has succumbed to a stress-related injury.
Riach, who has played every WAFL game this year, is facing a prolonged stretch in the club’s rehabilitation group.
“Brodie presented last week with some lower leg soreness, which on some investigation showed itself as being a fibular stress fracture,” Tucker said.
“He’s under management at the moment, with no running for a period of approximately three to four weeks. He’ll build from that point.”
Nic Naitanui’s rehabilitation from an ankle syndesmosis injury continues and the club will provide an update when more information comes to light in the coming weeks.
