West Coast Eagles Face Injury Crisis Ahead of AFL Season Opener
West Coast defender Reuben Ginbey has been declared fit for Sunday's AFL clash with the Gold Coast Suns, providing a rare boost for the struggling team. However, the Eagles' woes continue as Elijah Hewett has been sidelined by a mystery injury, further depleting their roster.
Injury List Expands for West Coast
The Suns are heavy favourites to defeat last year's wooden spooners, with most betting agencies offering odds as low as $1.01 for the premiership contenders. West Coast enters the season missing a host of key players, with many others either underprepared or in doubt due to injuries and suspensions.
Boom recruit Brandon Starcevich will miss three to four weeks after suffering two calf injuries in quick succession, while key defender Harry Edwards is out with concussion. Co-captain Liam Baker and former Crow Harry Schoenberg are both suspended, compounding the team's challenges.
With Hewett now unavailable, at least 12 players will be missing for West Coast's season opener on the Gold Coast. This list could grow if former Richmond hard nut Jack Graham, who is dealing with a hamstring issue, fails to pass fitness tests.
Hewett's Setback and Ginbey's Return
Hewett, who battled a calf niggle during the pre-season, was racing against time to prove his fitness for round one. The 21-year-old was notably absent from training on Thursday, and Eagles coach Andrew McQualter confirmed he would be sidelined with an undisclosed injury.
"We're just working through the exact details of it," McQualter said. "There might be something that has just popped up, but it won't be a long-term thing for Elijah. He's just missed a little bit of time now, so he's going to have to build himself back up."
In better news, Ginbey has been cleared to play after recovering sufficiently from a toe complaint. McQualter is uncertain whether Ginbey will have to manage the injury throughout the year, but the 21-year-old will be available to face Gold Coast in a backline already missing Edwards, Baker, and Starcevich.
"Like most players, there's always something going on from a physical point of view," McQualter noted. "But he's as tough a soldier as we've got. He's been in main training now for two sessions, and he'll train today, and he'll be right to go."
Potential Debuts and Starcevich's Frustration
The Eagles could unleash all three of their first-round draftees from November: No.1 pick Willem Duursma, No.4 Cooper Duff-Tytler, and No.19 Josh Lindsay, adding fresh talent to the lineup.
Starcevich, who arrived at West Coast on a four-year deal, has been left frustrated by his summer-time setbacks, which also included a knee injury. The two-time Brisbane premiership defender's absence is a significant blow to the team's defensive structure.
"He's missed that last little block now, but he's been doing this for a long time and he's a pro, and we've got him for a long period of time," McQualter said, expressing confidence in Starcevich's eventual return.
