Eagles Preseason 2015

[Barra13]

How is Scooter travelling? Would he be any good to pickup? What is his role looking like?

[LF]

I reckon McInnes might get a go he played forward and rucked a bit in the indigenous match

Scooter might play last NAB match

[Jukes]

Yeah now that I think back McInnes was pretty good against the all-stars, some potential there.

Actually have him on the Spetsnaz list but never really paid any attention to him.

[elephants]

How is Scooter travelling? Would he be any good to pickup? What is his role looking like?

Very dodgy pre-season. If he had of had a better one I would've locked him in.

[Barra13]

Thanks heaps for that ele. :/

[LF]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-03-06/preseason-for-nothing

ERIC Mackenzie will have a traditional knee reconstruction next week as he begins the long road to recovery from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

West Coast's reigning best-and-fairest ruptured the ACL in his right knee during the Eagles' 31-point win over Carlton in the NAB Challenge last Friday night.

The 26-year-old had to wait a few days until the swelling subsided in his knee before he and the Eagles' medical staff could make a decision on what type of surgery to have.

"We're going with a traditional knee reconstruction," Mackenzie told the club's website.

"So traditionally it's a 12-month recovery from that.

"Having spoken to Lecca (Mark LeCras) and Brownie (Mitch Brown), who've both had the traditional knee, they've both come back with no problems.

"So I think that’s the way to go."

Mackenzie said he initially thought he had copped a knock to the knee, when in reality his knee had buckled without contact.

It wasn't until the physio started to test his knee that he feared the worst.

"Immediately I just thought it was a knock on the knee, a bit of soreness that would go away pretty quickly," Mackenzie said.

"I managed to get up, and I started jogging off towards the end of it so I thought I'd be right to come back on.

"It's only when the physio started doing the tests â€" I know what the ACL test is â€" they weren't happy with the results so they took me down to the rooms.

"I've just done this pre-season for nothing â€" it's going to be a long year ahead."

West Coast now faces the task of trying to replace its number one defender.

Eagles coach Adam Simpson told 5AA on Wednesday that Jeremy McGovern might need to play a fixed role in defence at various stages depending on the opponent.

"We're going to have to see how we manage the loss of Eric, and (McGovern) might be part of that," Simpson said.

"In the next two or three weeks I need to find out what is our best fit down back.

"He's definitely going to be part of that at stages. If we play teams with a forward line with some dangerous talls, no doubt he's going to have to help us down there.

"But I'd love to swing him forward, too, at some stage."

Mitch Brown seems the logical man to take on the role as the main key defender.

Greater responsibility may also fall on versatile defender Will Schofield, who can play on both talls and smalls.

The Eagles' injury toll is still a major worry.

Ruckman Callum Sinclair will miss a month after breaking his thumb against Carlton.

Nic Naitanui remains a concern after he was left out of West Coast's squad to face Port Adelaide at Norwood Oval on Sunday.

The star ruckman is battling a back issue and is yet to play in the pre-season but the club believes he should be available for the Eagles' final NAB Challenge match against Fremantle on March 22.

Jack Darling's progress from his foot injury remains slow. Simpson admitted on Wednesday that the Eagles were tentatively hoping for the dynamic forward to be ready by round five of the home and away season.

One positive is that vice-captain Scott Selwood appears set to be available for round one following ankle surgery last December, and he may even play against Fremantle in the last NAB Challenge game.   

[LF]

http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/west-coast-eagle-murray-newman-injures-hamstring-in-football-return-for-wafl-side-east-perth/story-fniv6fhh-1227252986016

MURRAY Newman’s turbulent career hit another speed bump on Saturday when he suffered a hamstring injury in his first game since being released from prison.

The talented West Coast forward was aiming to take the first step towards an AFL comeback with a strong performance for East Perth in the WAFL pre-season match against Claremont at Medibank Stadium.

Newman’s low-key return to football, after spending all of last season in jail, was over before half-time.

The 21-year-old grabbed at his left hamstring before kicking a set shot goal in the second quarter and eventually came from the field and did not return.

[BigMac_93]

How do you guys rate Tom Lamb's JS? Do you think he can line up round 1?.

Im curious for supercoach.

[LF]

It will be either Lamb or McInnes that lines up I reckon
Both have had great preseasons so far and it is very hard to split them.
McInnes can also pinch hit in the ruck,was our backup to Lycett today and has been on our list for awhile now and apparently has bulked up a bit.
Lamb looks ready to go as well.

[LF]

http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/2015-03-09/casualty-count-climbs

WEST Coast's second NAB Challenge outing has left coach Adam Simpson with more worries, with key players Sharrod Wellingham and Xavier Ellis injured in Sunday's loss to Port Adelaide at Norwood Oval.

The Eagles lost key defender Eric Mackenzie to a season-ending knee injury in the club's NAB Challenge opener against Carlton, but Simpson is hopeful neither of Sunday's injuries will prove as severe.

Ellis pulled up before taking an intercept mark on the wing in the second quarter and then refused to kick, instead handballing to a teammate.

The former Hawthorn player managed 17 games for the Eagles last year but has a history of hamstring issues and was restricted to just 16 games from 2011-2013.

He left the field immediately with his hands on his head and was seen limping, having donned the red vest, late in the game.

The news was better for Wellingham, who was also subbed out of the game early with a calf issue.

While the severity of Ellis' injury remained unknown, Simpson said Wellingham had only suffered a corked calf.

"Ellis clearly hurt himself but the rest of the guys are a precaution," Simpson said.

"[Wellingham had a] corkie â€" we've just got to look after these guys, there's no point taking them back on.

"It was more a precautionary look at it."

Mackenzie's value to the side was magnified this year given the retirement of veteran defender Darren Glass at the end of 2014.

But Mitchell Brown stood up in Mackenzie's absence against the Power, holding the dangerous Jay Schulz goalless.

[DALBS]

Darling it seems won't be back until mid season at least. :'(

[LF]

http://m.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/2015-03-11/ellis-injury-only-minor

XAVIER Ellis' hamstring injury is only minor although the West Coast defender remains in doubt for the Eagles' final NAB Challenge clash against Fremantle on March 22.

Ellis injured his hamstring during the second term of the Eagles' loss to Port Adelaide at Norwood Oval on Sunday.

AFL.com.au understands it is only a very minor injury but there is no official timeframe on it.

It is the first time Ellis has had issue with his hamstrings, although he has previously experienced significant calf problems during his time at Hawthorn but those issues have been well managed since his arrival at the Eagles.

Ellis has been a very valuable acquisition to West Coast after leaving the Hawks via free agency at the end of the 2013 season. He played 17 games last year before his season ended in round 20 after suffering a shoulder injury.

West Coast will be hopeful that star ruckman Nic Naitanui can recover from the back tightness that has kept him out of the pre-season games so far.
Midfielder Scott Selwood remains on track for round one and will also push to play in the team's last NAB Challenge clash against Fremantle next Sunday.

[The_Captain]

Save yaself for round 1 Ellis! Already will be missing Maca, Darling and probably selwood the way hes travelling.

[Gigantor]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-03-14/selwoods-surprise-return

So I currently have Priddis in my team but after reading this I had a bit of a look at the stats

Rd1-12 + 23 Scooter and Priddis in the same team
Priddis ave - 106.2 Win/Loss 5/7

Rd 13-22 Only Priddis, average 120.7 Win/loss 6/4

Can we read much into this? 2011 and 2012 scooter played every game and Priddis averaged 114 and 110 but we did win 17 and 15 games respectively.

[RaisyDaisy]

Interesting stats, but I wouldn't worry about Priddis. As consistent as they get, and his preseason form is showing that if anything, winning the Brownlow has made him lift again

Great POD