2015 Preseason Player Watch - Barlow and Duffield update

[sammy123]

Hearing whispers about Harley Bennell.

And why wouldn't u just tell us?

[Ricochet]

Hearing whispers about Harley Bennell.

And why wouldn't u just tell us?

[Rusty00]

Hearing whispers about Harley Bennell.

And why wouldn't u just tell us?

My guess is that the whispers relate to a recent big news story on the Gold Coast and he doesn't have anything concrete so doesn't want to say it ;)

[Ricochet]

Hearing whispers about Harley Bennell.

And why wouldn't u just tell us?

My guess is that the whispers relate to a recent big news story on the Gold Coast and he doesn't have anything concrete so doesn't want to say it ;)

Well he did use to party it up pretty hard when he was younger

[RaisyDaisy]

Read this about Bennell a few days ago

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-02-19/bennells-bad-night

Maybe he is in on the whole coke saga

[honza]

Well he did use to party it up pretty hard when he was younger

[The_Captain]

Is he racking up disposals or racking up something else

[Mat0369]

Read this about Bennell a few days ago

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-02-19/bennells-bad-night

Maybe he is in on the whole coke saga

He also lived with Hunt for a bit after he had home sickness issues in his first season

[LF]

http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/2015-02-26/naitanui-not-far-off

NIC NAITANUI has been held out of Friday night's NAB Challenge due to back soreness, but the West Coast hierarchy believe the injury is only minor.

Naitanui was not named in the Eagles’ squad to face Carlton on Wednesday and the star ruckman was restricted to light duties at training on Thursday.

A fortnight ago Naitanui said he was keen to play as many games as possible in the pre-season after enjoying one of his best summers in recent years.

He was in-line to face the Indigenous All Stars last Friday night but did not play, and Eagles assistant coach Don Pyke said the decision to rest Naitanui again this week was precautionary.

"He's a bit stiff in the back," Pyke said.

"He's such a valuable player to us. We're five weeks out from the season. We're hopeful it's a minor setback and he'll be fine for the next game. It's precaution more than anything.

"He was a little bit disappointed when he found out he wasn't going to be playing because he's done a lot of work this pre-season and is in really good shape."

Pyke said Naitanui would have been borderline to play if it was round one this week, but the Eagles have a no-risk policy for the NAB Challenge.

Scott Selwood has returned to full training after his ankle surgery in December and is on track to play later in the NAB Challenge.

Jack Darling remains a concern for West Coast. The 22-year-old was not sighted at training on Monday or Thursday.

Senior coach Adam Simpson effectively ruled him out of the entire NAB Challenge and round one last week, and it is possible Darling could miss a number of games early in the home-and-away season as he continues his battle with a stress injury in his foot.

"He's been slower than we probably hoped," Pyke said.

"But he's making progress. From what I've heard, he's likely to not be available early in the season, but we'll take it from there."

New draftees Tom Lamb and Jackson Nelson will get another chance to impress after both played cameo roles in last Friday night's win over the Indigenous All Stars.

The Eagles first-round draft pick Liam Duggan has suffered a minor ankle injury but he is working his way back to full fitness via a tailored running program.

Friday night's clash against Carlton at Rushton Park in Mandurah is a sell-out.

[honza]

Read this about Bennell a few days ago

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-02-19/bennells-bad-night

Maybe he is in on the whole coke saga

He also lived with Hunt for a bit after he had home sickness issues in his first season

This and some prior points raised on this page is the sum of the whispers.

[Mat0369]

Scott Selwood has returned to full training after his ankle surgery in December and is on track to play later in the NAB Challenge.

I had him in my early drafts but full training only recently has to be a worry for West Coast in general

[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.   

[SydneyRox]

Damn you Nic Nat :(

[sammy123]

Damn nic nat

[Deadly6]

Nic Nat Leue combo is looking a bit sick :(