West Coast’s friendships with Junior Rioli can be forged apart on Saturday with ahead Jake Waterman saying the gamers’ pleasure at seeing him glad and settled at Port Adelaide can be changed by a willpower to cease him from having any influence.
Rioli moved to the Power throughout the commerce interval in a bid to be nearer to his household. The small ahead skilled a number of turbulent seasons on the Eagles with a two-year anti-doping suspension, a court docket look after which solely 13 matches in his return to the sport final yr.
The 27-year-old performed towards West Coast throughout the pre-season and booted two objectives as a reminder of his expertise. Rioli then kicked three objectives in spherical one towards Brisbane and whereas he’s managed just one within the final 4 matches, he has additionally booted 5 behinds.
Waterman, who was drafted in the identical yr as Rioli, stated the complete West Coast group understood how damaging he could possibly be.
“We obviously know (Junior’s) strengths a little bit more than other players, and his weaknesses even though he doesn’t really have any. We know what to expect and that’s to expect brilliance from Wiz,” Waterman stated.
“Hopefully the boys down back can mitigate him a little bit and try to keep him to only a few touches. He’s such a great player and he’s a great man.
“You’ve got to put that friendship aside for games. We’re all pretty close. He went through a lot at the footy club that’s for sure. We were all pretty tight all the way through that.
“It’s good to see him doing well but on the weekend we will try to knock him over for sure. He seems like he’s in a good spot and I think it’s showing on the footy field.”
The Eagles will enter the sport with an extended harm checklist and having misplaced their final three matches by a mixed 151 factors.
But Waterman stated there was no level complaining about not having huge names out there.
“It’s unfortunate for the boys who get injured,” he stated.
“You see the amount of work they put in to get their bodies right and have that taken away with is out of their control But as a player that’s still available, I’m trying to put my hand up and take responsibility.
“They are injured but we’ve got to move on. We can’t dwell on what we don’t have. We’ve got to focus on what we do have.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
