Injury blow for Eagles ahead of AFL derby
Apr 25, 2017 - 6:11 PM Already reeling from another embarrassing MCG capitulation, West Coast will head into Saturday's western derby against Fremantle without several key players.The Eagles have confirmed tough forward Jamie Cripps will be sidelined for two months after injuring his ankle during their 51-point loss to Hawthorn on Sunday.
Young defender Jackson Nelson fractured his wrist and will miss about a month, having cemented his spot in the side this season.
"Jamie, as we saw, had a nasty turn of the ankle very late in the game," West Coast football boss Craig Vosso said.
"Unfortunately it's a fairly high-degree injury with that ankle and he's likely to miss a period of about eight weeks.
"Jackson Nelson suffered a fracture to his wrist in the course of the game; (he) played it out really well. But it's pulled up sore, so he'll be out for about a four-week period."
The Eagles are hopeful wingman Andrew Gaff (ankle) and defender Brad Sheppard (knee) will be available despite pulling up sore after the Hawthorn game.
But veteran midfielder Sam Mitchell appears unlikely to play for a second straight week as he recovers from an ankle injury.
Vozzo said Mitchell would be given a chance to prove his fitness later in the week, but coach Adam Simpson earlier admitted the 34-year-old's recovery was not progressing as well as the Eagles had hoped.
Mitchell was sorely missed against his old side Hawthorn, with the Eagles smashed in the contests and seemingly troubled again by the width of the ground.
Ruckman Scott Lycett remains four to six weeks away from returning from a knee injury, while superstar Nic Naitanui (ACL) is unlikely to play this season.
West Coast are bound to be tested by the resurgent Fremantle, who have notched impressive wins over the Western Bulldogs, Melbourne and North Melbourne after losing their first two games.
The Dockers will be without wingman Stephen Hill, who will miss up to a month with a hamstring injury.
Source: AAP
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