Setback for Eagle Newman
West Coast club champion Eric Mackenzie made a successful return to training in sweltering conditions yesterday as Murray Newman dealt with the second setback of his pre-season.
Mackenzie, 26, finished the gruelling session at UWA Sports Park in a personal milestone.
It was his first unrestricted training run since being sent for hip surgery in September coming off a career-best season.
Mackenzie, who claimed his first John Worsfold Medal in 2014, is the team's premier defender and looms as a pivotal figure in its quest to return to the finals this season.
He completed a time trial at the nearby WA Athletics Stadium with the main squad before participating in a series of skills-based drills.
Several players battled with the soaring temperature - it hit 40C during the session - the Eagles' first after the Christmas break.
Xavier Ellis sustained heat fatigue after running laps away from the main group as he returned from AC joint surgery, while Jamie Cripps vomited.
But Newman cut the most frustrated figure after being restricted to light duties before leaving the session early.
The 21-year-old had his left knee strapped and was an onlooker for much of the first half of training. West Coast confirmed Newman had reported pain in the joint in the week before Christmas.
The club has taken precautionary measures despite scans clearing him of any damage.
It is the second pre-season hiccup for a bulked-up Newman, who was sidelined by a bad ankle sprain last month.
The forward has been pushing hard at training to make amends after missing the entire 2014 season while serving a jail sentence.
West Coast continue to be conservative with 193cm Victorian draftee Tom Lamb, who did not train yesterday after coming to the club with a minor knee injury.
Lamb is scheduled to start his program with the main group in a fortnight, making it unlikely he will feature in the club's early pre-season matches.
However, Matt Rosa completed the majority of yesterday's session in a major boost seven weeks out from the Eagles' first NAB Challenge match - against Carlton in Mandurah on February 27.
The 28-year-old had been sidelined before Christmas while recovering from ankle and pectoral injuries.
The injured Sharrod Wellingham (knee), Jeremy McGovern (hip), Callum Sinclair (finger) and Elliot Yeo (hand) all trained away from the main group. Scott Selwood (ankle) and Jack Darling (foot) walked laps as they continued their recovery from surgery.
