Strong-marking defender Tom Barrass is a chance to return from shoulder soreness in time for Sunday’s trip to face Hawthorn at the MCG.
And a host of star Eagles are also close to comebacks, with Jeremy McGovern (groin), Shannon Hurn (calf) and Liam Ryan (shin) potentially only a week from returning to action, while Elliot Yeo (groin) is now a chance to play before West Coast’s bye.
Barrass trained well on Tuesday during a skills session, showing no sign of any issues taking overhead marks, and could be back against the Hawks after missing the RAC Derby victory.
“Tom’s shoulder is tracking ahead of probably where we thought it might be,” General Manager Football Craig Vozzo told westcoasteagles.com.au.
“He’s got main training later this week and we’re hopeful he’ll be available but he needs to get through training.”
Hurn was set to break Dean Cox’s games record against Fremantle before a last-minute setback with his calf during Saturday morning’s light training session.
“It was a real anticlimax for Shannon and the club last weekend unfortunately in a whole lot of ways,” Vozzo said.
“He had that incident in the captain’s run as (coach) Adam (Simpson) described in his press conference and we didn’t want to take a risk with that calf.
“He’s moving around quite well. We’re anticipating a one-to-two-week delay before we get the game back in and we get him back, more importantly, in the team for the rest of the year.”
McGovern went down with an abductor strain during the Geelong defeat and won’t travel to take on Hawthorn, but could be back against Adelaide at Optus Stadium in round nine, along with electrifying forward Liam Ryan.
“Jeremy is tracking well from an abductor strain. Bit more straight line (running) at the moment, but got into kicking," vozzo said.
“He’ll join in some skills later this week and hopefully sign off on the weekend with a view to some availability next week is the hope.
“(Ryan) will ramp up his training on track, he’s been doing a fair bit in the gym and well,
“We’ll elevate him through next week and hoping he’s another one-to-two weeks away.”
Ahead of the trip east, big man Nathan Vardy will face a test to be available after dealing with foot soreness.
“Nathan had a plantar fascia injury which he’s been working through with our doctors in terms of pain relief and had a light start to the week,” Vozzo said.
“He’ll be a test later in the week to see if he can come across to Melbourne to play Hawthorn.”
In other news, Yeo continues to make strong progress from his osteitis pubis and Mark Hutchings (hamstring) is set to play WAFL game minutes this weekend against East Fremantle.
“Elliot is going really well. To plan. We’ve had no setbacks in the last few weeks and seems to be coping really well with his elevated training loads,” Vozzo said.
“We’re anticipating we’re on track and he’ll be available for some game minutes just before or just after the bye, is the hope.”
Exciting draftee Isiah Winder is set for a spell on the sidelines, however, after battling knee soreness that restricted him to walking laps on Tuesday.
“'Izzy' has had some knee pain and some swelling so he’ll be seeing a surgeon for medical review to get an opinion the way forward,” Vozzo said.
“We’ll know more once we get that report through.”
Injury list
Tom Barrass Shoulder Test
Shannon Hurn Calf 1-2 weeks
Mark Hutchings Hamstring Test
Jeremy McGovern Groin 1-2 weeks
Liam Ryan Shin 1-2 weeks
Luke Shuey Hamstring TBC
Nathan Vardy Foot Test
Daniel Venables Concussion TBC
Isiah Winder Knee TBC
Elliot Yeo Groin TBC
