West Coast ruckman Nathan Vardy is set to miss the start of the AFL season after injuring his adductor, while Nic Naitanui is also looking increasingly unlikely for the round-one clash with Sydney.
Vardy suffered what appeared to be a serious adductor injury during Sunday’s 29-point practice match loss to Fremantle at Lathlain Park.
The 26-year-old crashed to the turf early in the last quarter and had to be helped off by two trainers.
Vardy will undergo scans to determine the extent of the damage but the Eagles aren’t optimistic the former Cat will be available for round one.
“It doesn’t look great at the moment. He’s pretty sore,” Eagles assistant coach Nathan van Berlo said.
Compounding injury concerns for the Eagles is the fact Naitanui is also struggling to get up for the round-one clash with Sydney on March 25.
Naitanui hasn’t played since undergoing a full reconstruction of his left knee late in the 2016 season.
West Coast were hopeful of giving him some limited minutes in next Sunday’s pre-season clash with Fremantle in Joondalup.
But Naitanui is now considered unlikely for that match, leaving him in an uphill battle to be fit for round one.
Van Berlo said Naitanui moved well in a training session on Saturday but the club didn’t want to risk him in a game if he wasn’t ready.
“We’ve got to have a holistic picture in preparing him to play a season of footy,” van Berlo said.
The Dockers played a near full-strength side in the closed-to-the-public match, overcoming a third-quarter fightback from West Coast to run out 12.14 (86) to 9.3.(57) winners.
West Coast excitement machines Willie Rioli and Liam Ryan showed glimpses of their best as well as flashes of their worst.
They struggled to get into the game in the first half as the Dockers opened up a 19-point lead.
But when the pair got going in the third quarter, it was simply electric.
Rioli booted two goals and Ryan added another as the Eagles closed the gap to one point.
Fremantle pulled away after that but Ryan and Rioli did enough to show they can form a potent partnership up forward this season.
West Coast entered the match missing stars such as Naitanui, Josh Kennedy, Shannon Hurn, Andrew Gaff, Luke Shuey, Jack Redden, Jack Darling and Mark LeCras.
Fremantle boasted a near full-strength side, minus Nat Fyfe and Stephen Hill.
Ruckman Aaron Sandilands and Michael Walters starred in the first half before being subbed out, while David Mundy and Lachie Neale were big contributors.
Forward Cam McCarthy and rookie Bailey Banfield booted three goals apiece but goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne had a shocker before being subbed out at half-time.
Lroy
Guest
They still have some big man depth, Lycett looks like hes ok, looked really good in the practise game against Port, they have a guy Fraser McCinnes who would be a walk up start at any other AFL club who can play CHF or pinch hit in the ruck, if they pick him they wont be losing anything. Frankly, I think they should play him at CHF, and push Darling out to a flank, and have Kennedy at FF, with Rioli and the other young guy in the pockets... along with Cripps and LeCras, thats a forward 6 that is going to kick plenty of goals. So not all doom and gloom for the Eagles, one guys injury is another guys opportunity.
User
Roar Rookie
Anon he was never going to play finals last year, it was just a little bit of ducks and drakes. Expect him to be out there in rd 1-4 because players of that calibre don't go for a hit out at wafl he'll come straight in.
Sexy Sam
Guest
Yes, better to write NN off and move on with what stock is available. Vardy down -groan- dejavu! Lycett is dodgy, so looks like WCE will have to go into patch up mode again. Unless they're just being super cautious with NN and he plays /managed in early games? Blight writing WCE midfield off this season, as have a good few fans. personally am still holding out to see a serviceable midfield and perhaps be pleasantly surprised...although that's sounding suspiciously like blind faith?
Big Bird
Guest
Very odd, it's quite irrational to "hate' a sports team with such passion it makes you feel ill". they're just like your team except different coaches and players - 22 players in coloured strips all doing the same thing as the other team. Some live in Freo, some from Freo families and vice versa. If you're a Freo fan, there's not much you can do because the Eagles were the first team formed outside the Vic walls, certainly the 1st team to win a GF from outside, and won 2 since. Which is why the press is biased, they're just popular, the favourites, and most of them don't really drink chardonnay at all!? some things you just gotta suck up buttercup! Freo are my traditional enemy her ein perth, but at the end of the cliched day I know it's just all rigged that way by advertising and clubs, I don't hate them, they're just people making a living...in funny purple gear!?
anon
Roar Pro
If you remember, there was talk about him coming back for the finals last year and that was September. Now it's March. Looks like the knee is not 100%. Not good for an 110kg player whose athletic ability is a big component of his game.
User
Roar Rookie
Both teams had a lot to like. But I'd say missing gov, nic, gaff, shuey, redden, Kennedy, darling, lecras, hurn, and a few others does kinda show WC were lighter on for experience. Fact the Wests main footy writer is a freo supporter doesn't lend any weight to the wa press has a WC bias it just sounds like standardised freos hard done by moan.
dontknowmuchaboutfootball
Guest
The angle taken in the WA press was that Freo beat an understrength WC, missing McGovern, Kennedy, Naitanui (obvs.) and some other "superstars" whose names I don't know because I hate the eagles with such a passion that even referencing them on an online discussion forum makes me feel ill. Freo were missing Fyfe and St.Hill, and Walters and Sandi only played the first half. So if you believe the WA press, Freo won't beat a full strength eagles — though with Vardy out for a few weeks, that may change things. It's telling that WC started to threaten in the third quarter, when Sandi had been replaced by Darcy, and then Freo got back in control after Vardy went down early in the 4th. I wonder what the people who argue that rucks are overrated would say about that? Third quarter saw Cerra and Brayshaw rotate through the middle a bit, so might have been that too (not that they were any slouches). Then again, I missed the first quarter and a bit, because the Freo live stream was useless, so maybe the new guys were in their from the start... I genuinely think that the result is not the take-away message from this game. It's what we saw of the ball movement and forward pressure. These are very encouraging signs.
User
Roar Rookie
My view is wce are taking a cautious approach, make sure he's in optimal condition, players ofhis calibre will always be able to come straight into seniors even after longterm absence. Simple fact is if he was a cooked chook like some are saying what is point of the charade.
rusty
Roar Rookie
How on earth is Naitanui still not ready? Any eagles fans know anything? They were saying he could have played at the end of last season and now he is missing round 1?
User
Roar Rookie
I'm not expecting finals this year as we blood the youngsters and the playing group transitions. I feel that what Venables has shown he will be a good player just needs time before he's thrust into the middle, time on a hff or wing could be more appropriate position as he's blooded.
gameofmarks
Roar Guru
I dun know, I think Venables has been a big disappointment so far. Hasn't shown much at all. Looks like the WCE ain't going to make the eight this year. Their disposal yesterday in the scratchie against Freo was deplorable, especially Watson.
User
Roar Rookie
Was an interesting game and happy with what a extremely young wce brought. Watson, Cole, rioli, Venables all played well and speed won't be a problem this year. Waterman and brander presented well and yeo is showing great development and flair which will slot beautifully into midfield. And jonboy yes ballantyne is cooked.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
I was working, so didn't see any of this game, but do you reckon we could replicate a similar win in this weekend's JLT match against the Eagles?
dontknowmuchaboutfootball
Guest
Really liked what I saw in this game. Freo were moving the ball on quickly, and without taking their full allotment of time when kicking from a mark. Seemed to have more confidence that a teammate would be in position to receive and they didn't need to think about it too much. Decent amount of centring of the ball too. Looking forward to Rd1.
Jon boy
Guest
It really is not the point ,but Don will correct you i am sure ,or the Cat will go online .
Jon boy
Guest
I Have still not recovered from the Grand Final when honestly if you were at the game ,he fell over 15 times and was ranked number 44 in the game unbelievable ! Been injury prone and hopeless since, over 30 years old and on a club list who some say are rebuilding.
Aligee
Guest
For a little bloke, Ballantyne tends to run to fast for his legs, if that makes any sense, falls over to easily when he should have a lower center of gravity and stay on his feet and miss to many easy goals, my god has he butchered easy goals. I have no idea of his goal to point ratio, but just guessing it is not great - although i stand corrected.
Jon boy
Guest
Ballantyne another shocker ? When is Ross going to wake up ? Hardwick realised he had to listen more to assistants around him maybe Ross should start doing the same ,it is embarrassing .