https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/af...s/news-story/360f5cbfe8949fafc8c87216012a27cf
West Coast and Fremantle have been left reeling, with multiple players from both teams suffering crucial injury blows just weeks before Round 1.
The Dockers were hit hardest, with star All-Australian Michael Walters suffering a hamstring injury during the third term of the AAMI Community Series against the Eagles after pulling up lame from a sprint attempt.
Walters joined Rory Lobb on the bench after the ruckman’s right leg became awkwardly trapped underneath him during a tackle in the opening minutes of the Dockers’ clash.
Lobb was helped off the field then later seen with ice on the outside of his knee on the bench.
Young Fremantle midfielder Mitch Crowden also finished the match on the interchange with an ankle injury, while Bailey Banfield limped off after suffering a leg issue due to an attempted tackle from Eagle Brad Sheppard below his knees. Sheppard was left with a cut head.
Freo skipper Nat Fyfe came from the field early in the first term, pointing to a lower leg issue. But the superstar dual Brownlow Medallist later returned to the field to alleviate any fears.
West Coast didn’t escape the injury carnage, with Zac Langdon facing several weeks on the sidelines after a horror headclash with Fyfe knocked the Eagles recruit out cold.
Eagles skipper Luke Shuey sent a scare through the West Coast camp late in the third term after a minor rolled ankle. Shuey was placed in cotton wool at the final break, but the Eagles aren’t concerned the star midfielder suffered a serious injury.
UNCAPPED DOCKER STANDS UP
With Lobb now in doubt for Round 1, as well as Sean Darcy still sidelined with his own knee issue, uncapped Docker Lloyd Meek is set to inherit Freo’s No. 1 ruck mantle for the season-opener game against Melbourne.
Meek, a 203cm big man who’s yet to debut after being taken with Pick 69 in the 2017 draft, impressed in the Freo-Eagles scratch match last week with his competitiveness, follow-up efforts and chemistry with his midfielders.
And Meek carried that form into the AAMI Community Series, breaking even with Eagles duo Nic Naitanui and Nathan Vardy.
“The Dockers have found one there with Meek. He just looks a natural,” Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy told Fox Footy.
Fremantle legend Matthew Pavlich added: “He’s really impressive. He competes really hard in the ruck – it’s pretty much even in the hit-outs – and his follow-up work has been first-class, which is Naitanui’s greatest strength
“He probably went from thinking ‘I might play 60 or 70 per cent in the ruck’ and now he’s going to play the whole game against one of the elite players in the competition in Nic Naitanui – and he’s doing very well so far.”
The Eagles (fifth, 12-5 last year) are without guns Josh Kennedy and Tim Kelly but otherwise feature a strong line-up that wants to improve on last year’s elimination final exit.
The Dockers (12th, 7-10 last year) are one of the hot tips to climb up the ladder in 2021 in coach Justin Longmuir’s second season. They are without gun defender Luke Ryan this evening.
West Coast and Fremantle have been left reeling, with multiple players from both teams suffering crucial injury blows just weeks before Round 1.
The Dockers were hit hardest, with star All-Australian Michael Walters suffering a hamstring injury during the third term of the AAMI Community Series against the Eagles after pulling up lame from a sprint attempt.
Walters joined Rory Lobb on the bench after the ruckman’s right leg became awkwardly trapped underneath him during a tackle in the opening minutes of the Dockers’ clash.
Lobb was helped off the field then later seen with ice on the outside of his knee on the bench.
Young Fremantle midfielder Mitch Crowden also finished the match on the interchange with an ankle injury, while Bailey Banfield limped off after suffering a leg issue due to an attempted tackle from Eagle Brad Sheppard below his knees. Sheppard was left with a cut head.
Freo skipper Nat Fyfe came from the field early in the first term, pointing to a lower leg issue. But the superstar dual Brownlow Medallist later returned to the field to alleviate any fears.
West Coast didn’t escape the injury carnage, with Zac Langdon facing several weeks on the sidelines after a horror headclash with Fyfe knocked the Eagles recruit out cold.
Eagles skipper Luke Shuey sent a scare through the West Coast camp late in the third term after a minor rolled ankle. Shuey was placed in cotton wool at the final break, but the Eagles aren’t concerned the star midfielder suffered a serious injury.
UNCAPPED DOCKER STANDS UP
With Lobb now in doubt for Round 1, as well as Sean Darcy still sidelined with his own knee issue, uncapped Docker Lloyd Meek is set to inherit Freo’s No. 1 ruck mantle for the season-opener game against Melbourne.
Meek, a 203cm big man who’s yet to debut after being taken with Pick 69 in the 2017 draft, impressed in the Freo-Eagles scratch match last week with his competitiveness, follow-up efforts and chemistry with his midfielders.
And Meek carried that form into the AAMI Community Series, breaking even with Eagles duo Nic Naitanui and Nathan Vardy.
“The Dockers have found one there with Meek. He just looks a natural,” Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy told Fox Footy.
Fremantle legend Matthew Pavlich added: “He’s really impressive. He competes really hard in the ruck – it’s pretty much even in the hit-outs – and his follow-up work has been first-class, which is Naitanui’s greatest strength
“He probably went from thinking ‘I might play 60 or 70 per cent in the ruck’ and now he’s going to play the whole game against one of the elite players in the competition in Nic Naitanui – and he’s doing very well so far.”
The Eagles (fifth, 12-5 last year) are without guns Josh Kennedy and Tim Kelly but otherwise feature a strong line-up that wants to improve on last year’s elimination final exit.
The Dockers (12th, 7-10 last year) are one of the hot tips to climb up the ladder in 2021 in coach Justin Longmuir’s second season. They are without gun defender Luke Ryan this evening.
