West Coast recruit Sharrod Wellingham is set to miss at least the first two rounds of the AFL season after a slower-than-expected recovery from an ankle injury.
Wellingham damaged ligaments in his ankle during a trampoline mishap last month, but was initially expected to be fit for the round-two showdown with Hawthorn on April 7.
However, the former Magpie has since been told to wear his protective moon boot for a bit longer, meaning he is unlikely to return to the field until the April 13 clash with Melbourne at the earliest.
“It means he won’t have put any weight on that leg for about three weeks,” Eagles coach John Worsfold said at the club’s season launch on Wednesday.
“So you’d expect it would take another three weeks or so to really get him up and going, back ready to play.”
Worsfold said Wellingham was probably regretting the way the injury unfolded.
But the 2006 premiership coach said trampolines weren’t the only thing players had to be wary of.
“Even cushy carpets like this – we’re telling them to be careful. They’ve got a bit of rebound in them,” Worsfold joked.
Wellingham, who was part of Collingwood’s 2010 premiership outfit, was traded to West Coast for pick No.18 at the end of last season,
The 24-year-old midfielder has played 92 games since making his debut in 2008, and his arrival at West Coast was seen as a major boost to the club’s bid to snare their fourth flag.
Along with Wellingham, the Eagles could also be without ruckman Nic Naitanui and forward Mark Nicoski for the season-opening clash with Fremantle on March 23.
Naitanui is still recovering from off-season groin surgery, while Nicoski’s comeback from last year’s hamstring surgery is dragging on.
“Nicoski’s had a couple of minor setbacks in terms of just pulling back his training load,” Worsfold said.
“But he could be back in full training next week.
“He’s not far away from being able to play. What we need for him is to get through two weeks non-stop.”
Midfielder Daniel Kerr (knee) and wingman Andrew Embley (hamstring) are others who need to prove their fitness before being cleared to take on the Dockers.
West Coast vice-captain Beau Waters has recovered from off-season hip surgery, and will play his first game of the pre-season in Saturday’s encounter with Port Adelaide in Alice Springs.
