Two West Coast Eagles on the comeback trail from lengthy injury layoffs say they are more focused on recapturing their form than pushing for an AFL recall.
Nathan Vardy and Jack Petruccelle, both two weeks into their return to footy from respective groin and ankle injuries, told westcoasteagles.com.au that rediscovering their touch and helping East Perth resurrect its season was their only concern at present.
Reflecting on their form following East Perth’s WA Day derby loss to West Perth, both Vardy and Petruccelle conceded they had some work to do if they wanted to break back into the AFL team.
Vardy, whose only official appearance in blue and gold this year occurred against Port Adelaide in the JLT Community Series, said he was slowly getting back up to speed after suffering an adductor injury in March and aggravating it in April.
Quiet in his return game against Swan Districts last Saturday, the 26-year-old wielded more influence against the Falcons on Monday.
Transitioning between the ruck and full forward, Vardy amassed 24 hitouts, clunked three marks and kicked a goal in the opening term of the contest at HBF Arena in Joondalup.
“The body feels good, so now it’s just about building,” Vardy said.
“I think I played about 80 minutes today and I played a bit more in the ruck, which was a bit more taxing on the body.
“I’m not too sure what the plan will be next week, whether it will still be limited game time or playing forward more and a bit of time in the ruck. I’ll talk with the (strength and conditioning) team throughout the week about how it looks.
As much as he wanted to represent the Eagles again this year, Vardy reckoned he needed a bit more time at East Perth to hone his skills.
“I’m just happy trying to get my touch back and playing some good footy for East Perth, so that if or when I do go into the ones I’m able to play my best,” he said.
Jack Petruccelle takes down West Perth's Connor West
Petruccelle, who spent three weeks training away from West Coast’s main group to rehabilitate an ankle ailment, collected 16 disposals, four marks, four tackles and a goal against West Perth.
Like Vardy, he felt there were areas of his game that still needed improvement.
“I feel so much better; the ankle is holding up and it feels solid. I’m working my way back to being 100 per cent, which is good,” Petruccelle said.
“I’ve just got to keep working on my running. I’ve never been much of an endurance runner; I’m more of a speed type. I think once I get the endurance down pat, I’ll be in a much better place for it.”
With an opportunity opening up in the Eagles’ forward line following Jack Darling’s injury on Saturday night, one might forgive Petruccelle for thinking he was a chance to slot into West Coast’s forward line for the club’s round 13 clash with Sydney in a fortnight.
However, the level-headed 19-year-old said that was the furthest thing from his mind when he was representing the Royals in the WAFL.
“I think all of us have just got to focus on what we are doing here at East Perth because, after all, we are representing East Perth,” he said.
“We need to work on stuff here and the opportunities will come in the AFL for some of us.
“I think when we’re playing for the Royals we’ve just got to focus on the task at hand, because we want to get back on the winners’ list again.”
