By Justin Chadwick
West Coast forward Jack Darling remains a chance to play in round one of the AFL season after scans cleared him of the need for ankle surgery.
But the Eagles have been left to sweat on another injury after young forward Jack Williams was taken to hospital on Tuesday to assess damage to his rib or lung.
West Coast’s Jack Darling will not need ankle surgery.Credit:AFL Photos
The Eagles were fearing the worst after Darling’s left ankle got caught under his body when he was tackled by a teammate during an intra-club hit-out last week.
Darling underwent multiple sets of scans to determine the full extent of the damage, and the Eagles breathed a sigh of relief when it was revealed the 30-year-old would only miss a matter of weeks.
“I don’t think it’s too severe. He’ll be touch-and-go for round one, but knowing the way he is I think he’ll be OK,” Eagles coach Adam Simpson said.
“So no surgery, just an ankle. We’ll see how he recovers the next couple of weeks.
“Hopefully we’ve dodged a bullet.”
The retirement of Josh Kennedy means Darling will be the focal point of West Coast’s attack this year alongside rising star Oscar Allen.
West Coast were ravaged by injuries last season, and Simpson was bracing himself for bad news after seeing Darling go down.
“The bruising we got from last year, there’s those fleeting thoughts (of worry) that come into your mind,” he said.
“But we’ve got to stay resilient. Injuries are going to happen. We had our fair share last year, so hopefully we’ll get a better run at it, which we have.”
Williams, chosen with pick No.57 in the 2021 national draft, was taken to hospital on Tuesday as a precaution after a collision at training.
“He got a knock today in the ribs,” Simpson said.
“I think he’s gone off to hospital as a precaution with his lung. It might have deflated a tiny bit. We didn’t want to take any risks.
“Hopefully it’s not as serious as it sounds. It was more of a precaution.”
West Coast’s player group were dealt a second tragedy in the space of three weeks on Monday when Zane Trew’s mother, Daina, died of cancer.
It follows the death of Rhett Bazzo’s mother, Kylie, in a boating accident.
“Young men suffering grief like that is a real challenge for them and their families,” Simpson said.
“As a club all we can do is sit in the background and provide as much support as we can.”
AAP
