Scans clear Darling of ailment
West Coast say Jack Darling is not injured and will face Gold Coast at Patersons Stadium on Saturday, despite being sent for scans following the club's third straight defeat.
Darling left the training track early yesterday after having scans in Subiaco 24 hours earlier.
He spent the first 15 minutes warming up before heading into the rooms and taking no further part in the session.
The 21-year-old has played every game this season, but his output has diminished since the club's bye last month.
Darling has booted just two goals in his past three matches.
His availability against the Suns will be crucial for a match West Coast must win to stay in the hunt for a finals berth.
The Eagles' season is on the brink after losing seven of their past eight matches to slump to 11th spot.
Their only wins have come against the Western Bulldogs, Melbourne, St Kilda and Greater Western Sydney.
An Eagles spokesman said the scans had been "precautionary" after Darling pulled up sore from last Saturday's 44-point loss to Hawthorn at Aurora Stadium.
The club would not disclose Darling's issue.
"He's fine," the West Coast spokesman said.
"He will play against Gold Coast unless something happens to another part of his body between now and Saturday."
Darling was not on the club's injury list which was released on Monday.
Fellow forward Josh Kennedy is not a certain starter against the Suns.
The 26-year-old spent almost all of yesterday's 75-minute session on the field, but did not do any contact work to test his recovery after surgery on a fractured cheekbone last week.
Kennedy spent time goal kicking and marking, barely inter- acting with the other players.
He will have to pass a fitness test at tomorrow's main session to earn a recall, but appears likely to miss a second match.
Veterans Dean Cox and Darren Glass walked laps, but otherwise took little active part in training.
Cox spent much of the session in a lengthy conversation with coach Adam Simpson.
Brad Sheppard (buttock), Brant Colledge (hamstring) and Simon Tunbridge (calf) all moved freely.
