Naitanui, Selwood set for Bombers in AFL

West Coast pair Nic Naitanui and Adam Selwood are quietly confident they can recover in time to take part in Saturday night’s AFL blockbuster against Essendon at Etihad Stadium.

Naitanui was a late withdrawal from last week’s win over North Melbourne due to a hamstring complaint, while Selwood suffered split webbing in his hand during the victory.

Eagles’ coach John Worsfold said the pair were doing their best to prove their fitness, but would wait until later in the week before making a final call.

“They’re both keen to play, very keen to play,” Worsfold said on Wednesday.

“Their track record would say they’re both a really good chance if they think they’re in that position to come up.

“Some of our hamstring injuries, players show some damage on an MRI but can play the same week because it’s very minor.

“Nic’s hamstring came more from a cramp situation so it wasn’t major damage.”

The Eagles will be without at least seven first-choice players for the match against the in-form Bombers.

Josh Kennedy (ankle), Mark LeCras (knee), Mark Nicoski (hamstring), Ash Smith (ankle) and Andrew Embley (shoulder) are all injured, while Will Schofield and Ashton Hams are suspended.

But the Bombers, who sit in fourth spot on the table with a 5-1 record, have injury concerns of their own, with Stewart Crameri in some doubt after hurting his knee in last week’s win over Brisbane.

Fellow forward Michael Hurley (hamstring) and Brent Prismall (knee) are listed as ‘tests’ on the Bombers’ injury list, while ruckman David Hille (calf) and defender Michael Hibberd (hamstring) are still several weeks away from resuming.

Worsfold said he would consider handing a debut to 179cm midfielder/forward Murray Newman in place of the suspended Hams.

“He’s only little, so he may draw a high tackle. That’s the first priority when we select players,” Worsfold said with a wry smile in reference to West Coast’s knack of drawing head-high free kicks this season.

Gerrick Wheedon, Tom Swift, Koby Stevens and Lewis Stevenson are others in the selection mix.

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