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Eagles to regain AFL stars from injury

Injury-plagued West Coast have upset the Western Bulldogs to stay in the AFL top eight.

West Coast Eagles player Shannon Hurn
West Coast skipper Shannon Hurn is certain to be back for the home AFL match against Port Adelaide. (AAP)

West Coast's injury crisis will ease significantly for a massive AFL match against Port Adelaide as several stars return.

Captain Shannon Hurn and veteran midfielder Matthew Priddis are certain to be back for next Sunday's home match against the Power.

Josh Kennedy, Mark Le Cras, Jackson Nelson, Scott Lycett and Josh Hill could also be available.

"What a great problem to have," coach Adam Simpson said.

The Eagles were in massive trouble in the last quarter on Saturday against the Western Bulldogs, with Sam Butler (hamstring) and Sharrod Wellingham (hip) joining the casualty count.

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After leading by 30 points late in the third term at Etihad Stadium, West Coast conceded four goals and their lead shrank to a point.

But after also hurting his shoulder earlier in the match, ruckman Nathan Vardy snapped a goal and West Coast hung on for a rare Melbourne win.

The crucial seven-point win means they retain seventh spot.

Before Saturday night's home game against Richmond, the Power were a game and percentage ahead of them in fourth place.

Apart from their notorious lack of success in Melbourne matches, West Coast also faded last week and lost narrowly to the Demons at home.

So Saturday's win was doubly significant.

"We're not here to answer any critics or anything like that but we probably have a bit more resolve about us now, which is really pleasing," Simpson said.

In two crucial match-ups for West Coast, Eric Mackenzie blanketed Bulldogs star Jake Stringer and Mark Hutchings continued Jason Johannisen's form slump.

Maligned forward Jack Darling was outstanding, kicking three goals, and Simpson hopes it goes some way to getting the monkey off the player's back.


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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