West Coast’s damage disaster is reaching disastrous ranges after it was revealed defender Tom Cole is about for an extended stint on the sidelines having re-aggravated the identical ankle damage that value him all of final season.
Cole, 25, is considered one of three outs for the Eagles’ conflict in opposition to reigning premiers Geelong at Adelaide Oval on Sunday, with veteran Shannon Hurn rested and highly-touted midfielder Elijah Hewett dropped after simply three appearances.
Meanwhile, midfielder Dom Sheed will miss at the least a pair extra weeks due to a throat damage sustained in a coaching mishap final week.
It had been hoped Sheed would return to deal with the Cats, however he stays on the sidelines with Cole in addition to Nic Naitanui (Achilles), Campbell Chesser (knee), Jamie Cripps, Callum Jamieson (each ankle), Liam Ryan, Jeremy McGovern, Luke Shuey (all hamstring) and Jack Williams (spleen).
Cole will see a specialist subsequent week after injuring his proper ankle however coach Adam Simpson mentioned Cole can be at the least just a few weeks “off legs”.
“Yeah it is not great at the moment … but it looks like a longer-than-a-week injury,” Simpson informed 6PR.
“It’s the same ankle he had damage to last year and it just flared up a little bit, so we just need to dig a bit deeper with what’s going on with it.”
Despite the deep damage checklist the Eagles have nonetheless determined to relaxation former captain Hurn as they put together for 2 video games in Adelaide in six days.
Hurn, 35, is averaging 21 disposals this season from defence however has been left at dwelling because the Eagles put together to deal with final 12 months’s premiers.
First-round draftee Hewett is headed again to the WAFL after choosing up simply eight disposals in his first full sport in opposition to Melbourne on the weekend.
Inexperienced 200cm defender Harry Edwards is an opportunity to play as Simpson appears to discover a method to curtail the Cats’ energy duo of Tom Hawkins and in-form Jeremy Cameron with out vice-captain McGovern.
Edwards, who was unavailable final week due to an ankle damage, is considered one of six potential inclusions, with the Eagles to chop their 26-man squad again to 22 on Friday.
Defender Alex Witherden returns after lacking the loss to Melbourne with a concussion whereas ahead Jack Petruccelle and midfielder Xavier O’Neill are an opportunity to play their first video games since spherical one.
Luke Foley (23 video games) and Zane Trew (two) are in line so as to add to make uncommon appearances.
Trew, 20, was delisted final 12 months earlier than being redrafted as a rookie however frolicked away from the membership this pre-season after the tragic demise of his mom.
The midfielder was probably the greatest for the Eagles’ WAFL aspect of their loss to South Fremantle with a team-high 26 disposals, three clearances and 5 inside 50s.
Geelong have misplaced ahead Gary Rohan who has been suspended for a harmful deal with of their Easter Monday win over Hawthorn, whereas Jed Bews will miss with a concussion.
Tall defender Sam De Koning has been named within the prolonged squad alongside Brandan Parfitt, Mitch Knevitt, Sam Simpson and Tanner Bruhn.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
