West Coast’s horror pre-season has worsened just days out from the start of the AFL season.
The Eagles will struggle to put a team together for their opening-round game against Gold Coast on Sunday, with coach Adam Simpson conceding he has only “25 or 26” players available.
The club took another hit today when gun 2021 recruit Tim Kelly tested positive to COVID-19, ruling him out of Round 1.
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Excitement machine Liam Ryan is in health protocols, while superstar ruckman Nic Natanui was also absent from training today.
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Eagles captain Luke Shuey is racing the clock to return from a hamstring injury before Sunday.
“Whilst we’ve been struck down by injury there’s no doubt, there’s still optimism, there’s still hope, there’s good spirit at the club,” Simpson said.
“It’s important we stay resilient.”
Gun key forward Jack Darling will also not play this week.
Darling only recently returned to training, having engaged in a standoff with the AFL’s vaccination mandate which threatened to end his career.
He is now back at the club, but not fit to play in Round 1.
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