Gun West Coast midfielders Elliot Yeo and Luke Shuey will stake their claims to face Hawthorn later this week, while a number of big-name Eagles are eyeing returns following the mid-season bye.
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General manager of football Craig Vozzo said both Yeo and Shuey were in the frame to face the Hawks should they get through a fitness test on Thursday.
“We had a scare with Elliot on the weekend. I think we all had our hearts in our mouth but fortunately the scans and the examination by the docs has established that it’s a sprain – a medial knee sprain,” Vozzo said.
“There’s a bit of swelling, but he’s tracking actually quite well. He will build lightly into the week and he’ll be a test later on this week.
“Luke is tracking well. He is doing more and more on the track and integrating into training more and more. He’ll be a test later in the week.”
Two other exciting Eagles are in a position to resume this week after spending an extended stint on the sidelines.
Jack Petruccelle (ankle) and Nathan Vardy (groin) will line up for East Perth at Leederville Oval on Saturday if they get through the rest of the week’s training program unscathed.
“Jack’s tracked really well with the recovery from the ankle sprain he had a couple of weeks back. He’ll do full training with the guys on Thursday and getting through that he’ll be available for selection,” Vozzo revealed.
“Big Nathan has worked really hard and we’re relaunching this week if he gets through training, his plan being doing full training on Thursday. He seems really confident and we could pick him for East Perth.”
Vozzo also provided a positive update on the condition of livewire forward Liam Ryan (ankle) and 2014 John Worsfold medallist Eric Mackenzie (toes).
He said the bookends could be ready to lace up their boots against following the club’s mid-season bye.
“I watched Liam train yesterday and he’s looking better and better, moving quite well and probably slightly ahead of schedule. All things being equal, if we can get the build we are looking at at the moment we’re looking for him to be available straight after the bye,” he said.
“We’re really pleased for big Eric. It’s been a long road, but he has turned the corner and he’s training really well. We expect to build him up over the next few weeks with a view to hopefully touch wood, play after the bye.”
First-year Eagle Hamish Brayshaw (knee) has turned the corner and could return at the same time as the aforementioned pair, while Will Schofield is facing at least two weeks on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring strain during East Perth’s loss to South Fremantle on Saturday.
Vozzo said Daniel Venables was still five-to-six weeks away from returning from his ankle injury.
