Eagles hopeful on Kennedy's silly injury
Jul 10, 2017 - 5:31 PM West Coast coach Adam Simpson concedes he's been made to look silly by Josh Kennedy's ongoing calf injury, but he hopes the key forward will make his long-awaited return this week.Kennedy has been sidelined since tearing his calf in the round 10 loss to GWS.
The Eagles initially hoped Kennedy would only miss two matches, but the two-time Coleman Medallist has now missed five games.
For the past two games, Simpson declared Kennedy was ready to return - only to be overruled by club doctors later in the week.
Simpson has avoided any bold declarations this week to make sure he's not burned a third time.
But he's optimistic Kennedy will be given the green light to play in Sunday's crunch clash with Fremantle at Domain Stadium.
"I've been looking pretty silly over the last few weeks saying he's in, so I'm not going to declare anything early on," Simpson told the Seven Network.
"But by all reports he'll just need to train and he'll play."
West Coast's finals hopes are on edge after Sunday's 32-point loss to Port Adelaide saw them slip to ninth on the table.
Eagles ruckman Scott Lycett made his return from a long-term shoulder injury in that match, only to be comprehensively outpointed by Port ruckman Paddy Ryder.
Simpson admitted bringing Lycett in to partner Nathan Vardy in the ruck didn't work against the Power.
"But it's not entirely Scott's fault. It's his first game for the year up against an All-Australian ruckman," Simpson said.
"We thought going in with two genuine ruckman against one we'd get an advantage, and we clearly didn't."
Kennedy's likely return will give Simpson a big headache at the selection table.
It's unlikely the Eagles can fit Kennedy, Lycett, Drew Petrie, and Vardy all in the same side.
And with the Eagles keen to give Lycett an extended run in the senior side, it seems either Petrie or Vardy are on the chopping block.
Source: AAP
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