Nic Naitanui will be sidelined for an indefinite period after incurring a syndesmosis ankle injury against Collingwood on Friday night.
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West Coast general manager of football Craig Vozzo said Naitanui’s return to play date would depend on how he progressed through each stage of his rehabilitation program.
“With Nic, unfortunately, it has been diagnosed as a syndesmosis injury to the ankle area,” Vozzo said.
“We’ve had a surgical opinion on it and various scans. At this point we have decided to treat it conservatively and we’re going to use our best efforts to avoid surgery. At this point we’re not setting a return to play date because it will be really dependent how he proceeds through his rehabilitation.”
The Eagles will be without livewire forward Jamie Cripps for at least three weeks due to an abductor ailment.
Cripps suffered the injury during the opening quarter of the club’s clash with the Pies and did not return for the remainder of the match.
“It’s ended up being more of the plain vanilla type (strain), which we had our fingers crossed for, but that still means he’ll be out for a three- to four-week period,” Vozzo said.
“But he’s in good spirits and already starting to move around quite well.”
The news less positive for premiership forward Daniel Venables, who will not return this season after suffering a heavy concussion against Melbourne in round nine.
Vozzo said the club, in consultation with Venables and his family, decided it was best for the 20-year-old to focus on his recovery for the remainder of the year.
“With Dan, we’ve adopted a really conservative approach,” Vozzo said.
“He’s getting a lot better, fortunately, through each phase of his rehab, but we’re not quite there yet. We’ve decided, with Dan’s consent and after great discussion with him and his family, that we’ll put a line through this season to allow him to fully recover and concentrate fully on his health and get him back to being asymptomatic, which we are confident he will be.
“But the unfortunate thing is we’re not going to have Dan available to play, which is big for him as well as us. But it’s the best thing and right thing for his long-term health.”
Liam Duggan (ankle) is at least three weeks away from resuming, Mark Hutchings (hamstring) could be back on the paddock in a fortnight and Nathan Vardy is in the frame to lace up the boots next weekend after making good progress in his recovery from knee and ankle ailments.
Brendon Ah Chee and Luke Foley, who both recently succumbed to calf injuries, are also tracking towards resuming next weekend.
In less encouraging news, Josh Smith may be set for a long stint on the sidelines after incurring a hamstring injury during the WAFL Eagles’ 69-point triumph over West Perth on Sunday.
“He’s had problems with that particular hamstring in the past,” Vozzo revealed.
“We’re still working through exactly what the diagnosis is and then the treatment, but we’re suspecting he’s going to be out for an extended period.”
