West Coast coach Adam Simpson says he’ll give Rhett Bazzo as a lot grieving time as he wants following the tragic loss of life of the younger defender’s mom.
Kylie Bazzo, 52 was killed over the weekend after falling overboard throughout a ship crash in Mandurah south of Perth.
Fellow passenger Debbie Burdon, 54, additionally died.
Rhett Bazzo misplaced his father, embellished WAFL participant Steve Bazzo, to most cancers in 2015.
West Coast have wrapped their arms round 19-year-old Rhett following the most recent tragedy to strike the household.
“It’s come as quite a shock to Rhett and his family,” Simpson mentioned on Wednesday.
“They’re dealing with that grief at the moment and the club is supporting them.
“We will give him as a lot time as he wants together with his household. Football just isn’t the precedence proper now for him.”
Simpson said the whole club had been shaken by the incident.
“You know, due to the tragic nature and the shock, the Monday was tough,” Simpson mentioned.
“So we needed to regulate that and supply slightly little bit of assist for the gamers in addition to our workers. We received by the day.
“We will play a bit of a scratch match today and we’ll keep moving forward but understand that the sensitivity around it always is with our players as well.”
West Coast received simply two video games final season after being struck arduous by accidents to key gamers.
But if the likes of Oscar Allen, Dom Sheed, Elliot Yeo, Luke Shuey, Jeremy McGovern, Nic Naitanui and Tom Cole can keep on the park this 12 months, the Eagles are hopeful of a swift stand up the AFL ladder.
“There is a new era coming,” Simpson mentioned.
“We’ve got some older players, but we’ve got some exciting youth.
“Sheed, Oscar Allen, Yeo, Naitanui, McGovern – these guys did not actually play a lot final 12 months.
“We’ve got some of the first years going along, building these older blokes carefully is really important. At the moment they’re all in a pretty good space.”
Plenty of intrigue surrounds the health of Campbell Chesser, who was snared with choose No.14 within the 2021 nationwide draft however didn’t play a recreation final 12 months because of a severe ankle damage.
Chesser continues to be working his method again to full health, and isn’t any assure to be able to go for the beginning of the season.
“It’s not all about round one, it’s about building through the year,” Simpson mentioned.
