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Eagles' flag veteran weighing AFL future

West Coast forward Mark LeCras needs surgery and is yet to decide whether the Eagles' grand final triumph will be his final AFL game.

LeCras
Mark LeCras (right) is yet to decide whether he will feature in the Eagles' premiership defence. (AAP)

A premiership player in the twilight of his career, Mark LeCras is yet to decide whether West Coast's grand final triumph will be his AFL swansong.

LeCras was swamped by family in the Eagles' rooms after Saturday's victory over Collingwood, having reached the AFL's pinnacle in his 13th season at age 32.

The off-contract forward intends to postpone talks about his future until he has had surgery on a lingering wrist issue.

"I haven't thought about it mate. I'm just enjoying this," LeCras said.

"I've got to get surgery post-season so we'll see how that goes and then sit down with the club. They've been able to manage it all year but it needs surgery.

"I'm going to see what the go is with my wrist and I'm going to weigh up everything before I consider (whether to play on).

"It's a pretty good time to be at the footy club though," he said.

Coach Adam Simpson earlier in the year indicated he was open to LeCras playing on in 2019.

The oldest player in West Coast's premiership team, LeCras went goalless but laid five tackles as the Eagles prevailed by five points in a thriller.

There were calls for LeCras to retire at the end of last year after an inconsistent season in which the classy forward played through a hip injury.

But he has thrived this season in a new-look forward line, booting 32 goals from 22 games and acting as a mentor for exciting newcomers Liam Ryan and Willie Rioli.

One of a dozen Eagles who has found redemption after playing in the 2015 grand-final loss to Hawthorn, LeCras also experienced September heartbreak early in his career when he was dropped during the Eagles' triumphant 2006 finals campaign.

"It's a lot of weight off the shoulders," he said.

"I'm sort of jealous the young guys get to play most of their career without wondering if it'll ever happen.

"You take them when you can get them."


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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