The West Coast Eagles are set to be bolstered by the return of at least four star players ahead of tomorrow night’s elimination final clash with Collingwood.
Senior coach Adam Simpson today confirmed that captain Luke Shuey, four-time all-Austraian defender Jeremy McGovern, inside bull Jack Redden and the club’s premier pressure forward Jamie Cripps would line up against the Magpies at Optus Stadium.
Shuey (hamstrings) and Redden (thumb) missed the club’s final two qualifying games due to injury, while McGovern was absent from West Coast’s round 18 clash versus North Melbourne after incurring a hamstring injury midway through the club’s penultimate home and away contest against St Kilda.
Cripps has not played since round 14 after returning to Perth from the Eagles’ second stint in Queensland to attend the birth of his first child.
Simpson conceded there was some risk attached to recalling so many players, but he had faith the proven performers would be ready to compete at 100 per cent against the Pies.
“Not once did I think we shouldn’t play Luke Shuey because he might be underdone, or Jack Redden, Jamie Cripps or McGovern,” Simpson said.
“Most of these guys have missed one or two weeks. I think Crippa has missed the most because he had a child. It’s not like he’s been in rehab. He’s been ready to go and been jumping out of his skin to play.
“We got to play a bit of a scratch match last Friday and everyone looked like they were normal, but there’s no guarantees.
“It comes at a risk, but it’s a risk we’re more than willing to take.”
Simpson was also confident that dual Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy would take his place in the side in spite of succumbing to a serious ankle ailment in round 18.
The senior coach said his star forward recovered well following the team’s main training session at Optus Stadium earlier in the week.
“He trained fully on Wednesday night,” Simpson said.
“At this stage we’ve got another captains run today. He pulled up pretty well yesterday, so if he gets through today we’ll make a decision then, but we think he’ll play.
“JK has got through these type of things before really easily and we are anticipating that’s going to happen.”
Simpson said his charges were readying themselves for an intense battle against Collingwood, who have quickly become West Coast’s most fierce finals combatant.
The Eagles have got the better in the club’s past two finals encounters, but the Pies hold a 4-3-1 advantage in the clubs’ overall finals record.
West Coast have won four out of its last five match-ups against Collingwood, but Simpson said that would have little bearing on Saturday’s night’s stoush.
“(Playing) Collingwood sort of guarantees that it’s going to be tough and it’s going to be close,” Simpson said.
“Collingwood beat us here last year. We’ve had a good couple of wins obviously in the last few years as well, but they’ve all been pretty close.
“Last time we played was a blowout, which we’ll take if that happens, but we’re anticipating a pretty fierce contest.
“I think it’s going to be on all day.”
