West Coast were dealt a double dose of bad news on Monday when injured defender Beau Waters was ruled out for the remainder of the AFL finals series and Quinten Lynch was slapped with a one-match ban.
Waters will undergo surgery later this week and is expected to miss up to 10 weeks after suffering ligament and bone damage in his right foot during Sunday’s 96-point elimination final win over North Melbourne.
Forward Lynch will also miss Saturday night’s semi-final against Collingwood after being found guilty of charging knees-first into the back of Kangaroos defender Scott McMahon in a late spoiling attempt.
Lynch’s previous poor record meant he couldn’t escape with a reprimand even with an early guilty plea.
But it is the loss of vice-captain Waters, who is enjoying his best season yet, that will hit West Coast the hardest.
The 26-year-old was last week named in the preliminary 40-man All-Australian squad, and has been a key cog for the Eagles in defence, with his intercept marks and unwavering attack on the ball the highlight.
Scans showed Waters had separated one of the sesamoid bones in his foot and also damaged ligaments under the joint in his big toe.
But while Waters’ premiership hopes are over, the news is looking better for wingman Matt Rosa, who could return against the Pies despite fracturing his collarbone just over a fortnight ago.
Rosa had a plate inserted in his right collarbone in a bid to add extra strength to the area, and has since resumed light contact drills.
Worsfold said the 25-year-old was “every chance” to feature against the Magpies, but would be put through more vigorous contact drills before being given the green light.
“If he thinks he’s ready to go, then I will heed a lot out of that, because I don’t know how his arm feels,” Worsfold said.
“But he’s been running no worries for a week or so, doing weights – full strength weights – so his arm’s strong and feeling good.”
Wingman Andrew Embley said Rosa, who had only just returned from a broken jaw before suffering his latest injury, would give the team a vital boost if he returned against Collingwood.
“He knows all the set-ups, he’s got enormous courage, and his ability to be able to run and carry the footy as well and get the ball inside 50 for us is very important,” Embley said.
“Broken jaw, cracked collarbone, and he’s putting his name up to play this week. It’s a testament to his character.”
The Magpies were also dealt a massive blow after skipper Nick Maxwell was slugged with a three-match ban for his off-the-ball hit on Hawthorn’s Paul Puopolo.
Maxwell can reduce the ban to two matches if he enters an early guilty plea, meaning he will have to rely on Collingwood to reach the grand final in order to play again this year.
