VETERANS HOLD KEY AS EAGLES TIP TO STRUGGLE

DID COVID MASK SLIDE?

CLEARLY the West Coast Eagles were the AFL’s worst-affected club from Covid, but it is easy to forget they had collapsed late in the 2021 season to miss finals. You get the feeling West Coast believes it is capable of a significant “bounce”, but others are more sceptical. It is not only going to need more durability from its veterans, it is also going to need a significant lift in output from several of them.

ARE VETERANS SPENT?

THERE was some surprise when Shannon Hurn was waved on into another season at 35, but he did finish second in the club’s 2022 best and fairest. Luke Shuey, 32, played 17 of 22 games last year and seemed to have shaken off the worst of his soft-tissue issues. Nic Naitanui, 32, has had a big summer, but now has an achilles tendon problem putting him in doubt for round 1. such as Elliot Yeo, 29, Jeremy McGovern, 30, and Jack Darling, 30, have looked fit, but Darling hurt an ankle. Some, but not all, can be expected to find their best.

FILLING JK’S SHOES

OSCAR Allen is a good player, arguably the Eagles’ best youngster, but they are big boots to fill and Allen did miss all of 2022 with a foot injury. He had also spent the three seasons before that playing more as a back-up ruckman than a tall forward. We have seen enough of Allen in his 59 games to be able to say he is going to be good. Let’s give it a while before we decide if he is a “great” like Kennedy.

HOW GOOD IS GINBEY?

BASED on his 17-disposal, 10-contested-possession effort against Adelaide in a midfield that was getting whipped, Reuben Ginbey is at least good enough to make the club’s round 1 team and will be one of the early fancies for the Rising Star. He has an AFL-ready frame, is quick, doesn’t flinch in the clinches and can run, carry and penetrate off his left foot. He’s not the finished product, but it is a pretty handy start at 18.