Selwood set to replace injured Sheed
UPDATE: West Coast midfielder Scott Selwood is set to play his third AFL game in almost 12 months after being named in West Coast’s team to take on St Kilda at Etihad Stadium tomorrow.
West Coast’s 2012 best-and-fairest winner will replace the injured Dom Sheed, who sustained a fractured hand in last Saturday night’s win over the Gold Coast at Domain Stadium.
Selwood, who succumbed to a persistent ankle injury after round 12, 2014 against Hawthorn on June 12, played just one more game after that last year — in round 23 against Gold Coast.
He hasn’t played a game since hurting an ankle against the Western Bulldogs in the season opener on April 4.
Coach Adam Simpson was confident the 25-year-old was ready to go, despite indicating there was likely to be a final fitness assessment on Selwood in Melbourne today.
Simpson said Selwood’s recovery from injury had been a slow process.
“We have been really cautious on the recovery this time,” Simpson said.
“He had a really good lead-in to round one and then had a bit of a reaction on his foot which wasn’t related to the previous injury.
“We have let that settle down and given it another week or two so we have been quite cautious about how we have brought him back. Whether we play him this week or not, he is ready to play.
“Unfortunately we have lost Dom for a few weeks.
“We didn’t think there was much in it, but he has got a slight fracture of his hand.
“We could have got away with it, but it is not worth the risk.”
West Coast also recalled Jeremy McGovern (calf) after he was a late withdrawal last weekend. He replaces teenager Jackson Nelson, who was dropped.
Young defender Tom Barrass’ emergence was underlined when he travelled with the team as an emergency, after five senior games with East Perth.
St Kilda lost Nick Riewoldt and Jack Lonie to concussion and Luke Delaney to a hip complaint. Blake Acres, Tim Membrey and Leigh Montagna were brought in.
