Jeremy McGovern’s long-awaited AFL return has been placed on maintain for at the very least one other week after the star West Coast defender pulled up sore from coaching.
McGovern tore his hamstring within the spherical three western derby loss to Fremantle and was on monitor to return for Saturday’s conflict with Sydney on the SCG.
But the four-time All-Australian was left feeling flat after pulling up sore in his hamstrings from Wednesday’s important coaching session.
Premiership defenders Tom Barrass (hip) and Liam Duggan (leg) will return towards the Swans, however the continued absence of McGovern is a big blow to West Coast’s hopes of rebounding from their embarrassing 122-point loss to Adelaide.
“He fully trained yesterday. He just pulled up a bit tight so we’ve just got to be careful,” Eagles coach Adam Simpson instructed reporters on Thursday.
“(He pulled up tight) mainly in the hamstrings area. Not necessarily the (previous) injury, but it’s just been a long time.
“He’ll be one other week or two. We had been actually pushing for this week and our expectation was that he was going to play, however the best way he pulled up yesterday was most likely an indication that he wasn’t totally prepared.”
Simpson said the sight of McGovern training alongside his other defensive stars had given the team plenty of excitement, and it was a disappointment when the soreness set in.
“He’s flat. It was really actually thrilling seeing McGovern, Barrass, Duggan and Hurn coaching yesterday – all these guys along with some youthful gamers.
“It was probably round three the last time we had that look. But we haven’t got it.
“So yeah, he (McGovern) was upset. We’re all slightly bit upset, however there’s additionally a actuality of the extent of the damage.”
Hurn (hamstring) is on track to return for next week’s home clash with St Kilda, while Jamie Cripps (ankle) and Tom Cole (ankle) are two to four weeks away.
Forward Jake Waterman, who spent eight days in hospital with a stomach infection, is set to be sidelined for at least several weeks.
“He’s within the restoration course of in the intervening time, so I believe soccer’s the very last thing on his thoughts,” Simpson mentioned.
“I really do not know the extent of the seriousness of it both. I have never been debriefed to the purpose but, as a result of he is nonetheless nonetheless fairly uncooked.
“So when he’s comfortable expressing what happened and how he’s going, then we can talk about it.”
Bottom-placed West Coast (1-12) are on a club-record 11-match dropping streak and have a woeful proportion of 51.4.
Sydney (5-8) are in fifteenth spot, with final 12 months’s grand finalists in determined want of a percentage-boosting win over West Coast to breathe new life into their finals hopes.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
