Big guns step up Eagles preparation
West Coast have taken a significant step up in their preparations for the NAB Challenge next month with ruckman Nic Naitanui and midfielder Sharrod Wellingham joining in match practice at Patersons Stadium this morning.
The Eagles major injury concerns ahead of the Challenge are now defenders beau Waters and Will Schofield.
Waters is likely to head to melbourne for an expert surgeon's opinion on his torublesome shoulder while Schofield is easing his way back after a hamstring injury.
West Coast played four shortened quarters of high intensity match practice this morning, b rtoken up at half time by a short skills session.
Naitanui, Wellingham and recruit Xavier Ellis sat out the first two quarters but played the second two.
Naitanui has been nursed along carefully because of lingering concerns about the groin problems which dogged him in 2012. Wellingham's trainign loads had to be eased off after a hot spot was detected in his foot.
Recruit Elliot Yeo played with dash running off half back and is likely to figure in West Coast's pre-season games while Brandt Colledge and Fraser McInnes also showed glimpses of promise.
Mitch Brown played two quarters as a forward as part of a push by new coach Adam Simpson to increase his team's flexibility and top draft pick Dom Sheed played the first half in the midfield pitted with and against the club's best stoppage players.
