WATCH: Is this the harshest 50m penalty of 2024?
Jack Petruccelle gave up a 50m penalty and a goal to young Sun Will Graham, after spoiling the ball away after it had gone…
West Coast are set to resist the temptation of rushing back star sharpshooter Mark LeCras for Sunday’s AFL clash with GWS at Patersons Stadium.
LeCras hasn’t played since breaking his arm in the round three win over St Kilda.
Although the 27-year-old only missed one match last year after suffering a similar injury, he played through pain for the rest of the season and his form subsequently dropped off.
Given West Coast have the bye next week, LeCras is more likely to return for the May 24 clash with Collingwood at the MCG.
Eagles coach Adam Simpson said he wouldn’t take any risks with LeCras given what happened last year.
“He’s probably more aware of his arm this year than he was last year, so he’ll tell us when he’s ready,” Simpson said of the 2010 All-Australian.
“It’s probably a bit of a mental battle as well, because he did carry it all year last year and he wasn’t quite right.
“We don’t want to rush that.”
Simpson is confident Luke Shuey will be fit to tackle the Giants despite the midfielder twisting his ankle in Sunday’s 19-point loss to the Dockers.
West Coast were on top of the ladder after three rounds, but their four-game losing streak has seen them tumble to ninth.
The Eagles have kicked a combined 30.51 during their losing run, and Simpson can’t put his finger on why the goals aren’t flowing.
“We haven’t put any more pressure on the players to convert,” he said.
“We’ve merely said keep training it, keep valuing your goalkicking when you train.
“Sometimes you just go out and have a few shots.
“It’s really important when you’re doing it you’re doing it with purpose.
“But we’re talking about three or four dribble kicks at the top of the goal square sort of stuff. They’re the chances you’ve got to take.”
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