West Coast is riddled by injury in their flag defence. Geelong seems to be racing towards their first premiership in over four decades. Four out of the six remaining contenders are from the home state of football. As it should be. Lets take a look at this weeks casualties.

 

Ben Cousins (West Coast) has been put in the spotlight yet again, badly injuring his hamstring, and not likely to return this season. West Coast officials are hoping he could play on the last Saturday in September, but that of course will only be possible should his team get there.

Verdict: 2-3 weeks.

 

Chris Judd (West Coast) looks certain to miss this week, following an above average performance in the forward line last Friday night with two goals, but is clearly not fit enough, due to his chronic groin injury that has been hanging over his head for some weeks now. One can assume coach John Worsfold and his assistants will chose a fit player to run with the fitter Magpies, over a hampered champion. And lets not forget his rolled ankle. Adds injury to injury.

Verdict: 1 week.

 

Daniel Kerr (West Coast) will miss the rest of ‘ Septopia’ with a snapped tendon in his finger.

Verdict: See you next year.

 

Matt Rosa (West Coast), the young up ‘ n’ comer, has injured his AC joint, and will join Judd and Cousins on the sidelines for the week, but hopeful to play in the hypothetical preliminary final against Geelong.

Verdict: 1 week.

 

West Coast’s David Wirrpanda is also in considerable doubt for this week’s semi-final, following a groin strain. Wirrpanda maintains that he will be fit and ready to play. Brett Jones may have a suspected broken nose, but will undergo fitness tests this week.

 

Now to Hawthorn. The last-gasp winners on the weekend have a couple of injury worries, with Campbell Brown’s gutsy dive into the goal post leaving him with a sore knee. But Brown told Channel 9 on Monday night that he is “100 per cent” to play this week. Superstar Luke Hodge also copped a knock to the knee, and was hobbling off the ground in the first half. He later returned, and inspired the Hawks to victory, and is also expected to be fit this week.

 

Port Adelaide, with the week off, have injuries to Dean Brogan, Brett Ebert and Michael Wilson. Brogan re-injured his ankle, but given the break, should pull up OK. Ebert may have done damage to the medial ligament in his knee, but further scans will reveal the severity of the injury, so keep one eye open. Wilson is in some doubt with a strained achilles tendon.

 

The Kangaroos’ Daniel Harris broke his hand in Sunday’s massacre at the MCG. Remarkably, he returned to the field, but will be tested during the week.

 

Possible returns this week are West Coast forward Ashley Hansen, and would be a welcome inclusion, along with Norm Smith Medallist Andrew Embley, who is returning from a hamstring injury. Ben McGlynn may also return from a groin injury, for Hawthorn’s cut-throat semi-final on Saturday night.