Kerr in doubt for Richmond clash - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Kerr in doubt for Richmond clash

By Justin Chadwick 09/07/2008 05:13:36 PM Comments (0)

In a case of bad things happening in threes, West Coast midfielder Daniel Kerr is in serious doubt for Sunday's AFL clash against Richmond.

Kerr, who tallied 40 possessions in the Eagles' 57-point loss to Hawthorn in round 14, is battling to overcome a sore knee, a bout of the flu and the after effects of a stingray bite to the ankle.

The stingray attack, which occurred during the club's recovery session at St Kilda Sea Baths on June 28, combined with the knee injury has restricted Kerr's training load while the virus has just added salt to the wound.

Eagles coach John Worsfold had no idea what sort of chance Kerr was to line up against the Tigers at Subiaco Oval.

"I'll talk to Daniel this afternoon," Worsfold said.

"There seems to be a lot of doubt about him. He's had a few issues.

"Obviously the stingray incident has held him back a fair bit and that may have been good for his knee.

"He had a virus the other day so I just want to see how he's feeling overall."

The week off - although relaxing - has failed to ease West Coast's injury woes, with Brett Jones (knee), David Wirrpanda (back), Sam Butler (groin) and Chris Masten (soreness) all facing a race against time to prove their fitness.

Jones and Wirrpanda are the more likely to return out of the quartet, while Butler will resume in the WAFL if deemed fit to play.

Richmond, who will enter the game on the back of an emotional fortnight following Graham Polak's horrific head injury, have a selection quandary of their own with star forward Matthew Richardson struggling to overcome a niggling knee and hamstring injury.

Worsfold said he would consider recalling forward Josh Kennedy after the former Blue bagged 3.3 in the WAFL following a five-week layoff with a knee injury.

But Worsfold said utility Shannon Hurn, who was on the verge of a comeback from a fractured leg before copping a knock on it at training last Friday, and midfielder Matt Rosa (fractured ankle) were unlikely to play for the Eagles again this season.

Worsfold said he was unfazed that his team, with just two wins to their name, was engaged in a three-way battle with fellow strugglers Fremantle and Melbourne to avoid the wooden spoon.

"If the suggestion is we can try harder because we want to avoid a wooden spoon ... I would disagree with that," Worsfold said.

"I'm not going to try any harder for any reason other than the pride of doing our best every week."

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