“Sean missed out last weekend; we didn’t quite get him ready in time,” said Merriman.
“He’s had a running session since then and everything is progressing well. We plan to get him into main training, and he’s a test to play this week.”
Versatile forward Sam Sturt missed Peel Thunder’s 19-point win over Swan Districts last weekend due to a knee issue.
“Sam had a minor flare-up of his knee during main training last week,” Merriman said. “We tried to get him ready for the game, but he should be available for selection this week.”
High Performance Manager Phil Merriman also discussed young winger Nathan O’Driscoll’s ongoing knee injury, stating that a timeline for his return will be established soon.
“Dris hasn’t had much luck,” Merriman said. “He’s had a procedure on his knee, and we’ll set a timeline for his return in the coming week.”
Meanwhile, fellow winger Ethan Stanley’s recovery timeline has been confirmed after a specialist visit in Melbourne.
“Ethan’s plan is four weeks for his syndesmosis injury,” Merriman said. “He’s back from Melbourne and will start running gradually towards the end of the week.”
In positive news, Brennan Cox’s hamstring rehabilitation is progressing well, with the defender about a month away from returning.
“Cox is doing well,” Merriman said. “He was doing his mini preseason on the hills this morning, running up to about eight kilometers at nearly 80 percent. All looks good for Brennan.”
Draftee Odin Jones and NGA graduate Conrad Williams will benefit from a WAFL bye, giving them an extra week to prove their fitness.
“They are both strong chances to be available, but unfortunately, it coincides with a WAFL bye due to state games. Both are looking likely to be ready to play,” Merriman said.
**ROUND TEN INJURY LIST:**
| Player | Injury | Availability / Timeframe |
|——————–|——————|————————–|
| Sean Darcy | Calf | Test |
| Sam Sturt | Knee | Test |
| Conrad Williams | Foot | Test |
| Odin Jones | Elbow | Test |
| Ethan Stanley | Ankle | 4 weeks |
| Brennan Cox | Hamstring | 4-6 weeks |
| Nathan O’Driscoll | Knee | TBC |
| Oscar McDonald | Knee | 11-13 weeks |
| Josh Corbett | Hip | Season |
| Sebit Kuek | Knee | Season |
