West Coast coach John Worsfold says he isn’t any closer to deciding on a replacement for injured star Mark LeCras after several potential replacements impressed in Sunday’s pre-season wins over AFL rivals Fremantle and Essendon.
Former Bulldogs forward Josh Hill was the early favourite to take LeCras’ spot after the 2010 club champion suffered a season-ending knee injury last week.
But impressive displays from Ashton Hams and Gerrick Weedon in West Coast’s 21-point win over Essendon on Sunday have thrown the door wide open.
Hams and Weedon booted two goals apiece against the Bombers, while Weedon popped up for another goal in the Eagles’ 20-point win over the Dockers.
And with 169cm Ryan Neates finally fit and eager to enter the selection frame, Worsfold said it would probably take him the entire pre-season campaign before deciding on a replacement.
“We’re lucky enough to have a lot of options,” Worsfold said.
“Neates looked really sharp when he came on.
“Josh Hill – I was really impressed with his game.
“I thought (Weedon and Hams) both contributed really well.
“There’s no doubt they’re both physically more prepared to play at the elite level than they have been before.
“So just looking at some of those guys that can potentially fill that role – they’ve all got another month of training to put their hand up.”
Weedon played just one game last season – as a sub against Essendon – but appears to have bulked up over the summer.
“He can play at the intensity of AFL football for longer periods than he has been able to do in the past,” Worsfold said of the 20-year-old.
“We know he’s got massive strength and explosiveness but he hasn’t been able to maintain it.
“Backing up with a really strong pre-season means he’s ready to step up to that mark.”
Although Worsfold said he hadn’t taken any notice of some experts writing off the Eagles’ flag chances following LeCras’ injury, not everyone in the Worsfold clan has been able to brush it off.
“It got in my daughter’s craw a little bit but, as a 15-year-old, I can understand maybe her being influenced by that,” Worsfold said.
“But for our players, we understand. We had players injured last year – Ryan Neates – and we feel all the same for those players, regardless of who it is.”
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon said he was impressed with the performance of 18-year-old Dockers forward Lachie Neale, who booted two goals against the Bombers before fading against West Coast.
“I suppose we’ve been a little bit bullish about him but … he’s just put another step in the right direction,” Lyon said.
Defenders Luke McPharlin, Antoni Grover and Alex Silvagni are tipped to return against Richmond in a fortnight, while Nick Lower and Kepler Bradley are also a chance.
