Eagles sweat on star AFL trio

Caution will be the key word for West Coast this pre-season as they attempt to nurse star AFL trio Jack Darling, Scott Selwood and Beau Waters back to full health.

Darling, who suffered a stress fracture in his foot during the final round last year, was reduced to walking laps on Monday.

The 22-year-old forward spent six weeks in a moon boot before Christmas, and will have further scans later this month to determine whether he can increase his loads.

“We’re being really cautious,” Eagles coach Adam Simpson said.

“We want the bone in his foot to heal as best it can. You can only go by the scans.”

Selwood had follow-up surgery on his troublesome right ankle in December and is still yet to resume training with the main group, while Waters is in the final stages of his recovery from a serious shoulder injury that threatened to cut short his career.

Simpson is hopeful Darling, Waters and Selwood will play at least one game during the pre-season before lining up for West Coast’s season opener against the Bulldogs on April 4.

But the second-year coach won’t take any risks.

“The next three or four weeks will determine a lot with how they’re progressing,” Simpson said.

“They’re all on schedule, but all of their injuries are longer term. Hopefully we’re over the hard part, now it’s starting to get back into training.

“The plan is they’ll be available at some stage (of the pre-season competition), but it’s a fine line.”

Selwood missed 10 weeks last season before returning for the final-round win over Gold Coast.

However, further complications with his ankle means he is facing a battle to get match fit in time for the season opener.

Waters, who missed all of last season after pins in his reconstructed shoulder became infected, has been held back from heavy contact drills.

“We still haven’t thrown him in the deep end yet, and I don’t need to see him go full contact,” Simpson said.

“I don’t think he needs to prove himself with how he attacks the ball or the player with the ball. I want to give him every chance to play.”

West Coast’s first NAB Challenge game is against Carlton in Mandurah on February 27.

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