Eagles' Hunter in doubt for round one - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Eagles' Hunter in doubt for round one

By Justin Chadwick 24/03/2009 01:14:21 PM Comments (0)

West Coast coach John Worsfold says he's yet to decide whether to include defender Adam Hunter in his team for the AFL first round clash with Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday night.

Hunter, who underwent a shoulder reconstruction midway through last season, has been troubled by pain in the joint over the summer and did not feature in any of the Eagles' pre-season fixtures.

The 27-year-old booted two goals for Swan Districts last week but Worsfold said Hunter may require another hit-out in the WAFL before breaking into the senior side.

"That's the big thing, bring him in and play him after the one hit-out, or give him another couple of hit-outs," Worsfold said on Tuesday.

"It's all about the fitness to cope with what we'll require him to do on the weekend and that's the thing we're weighing up, whether we want to play him and use him off the bench for 70 or 80 minutes of the game, or whether we'd think he'd have to play a bigger role.

"If that was the case, we'd want him a bit fitter."

But while Hunter is in doubt, Worsfold threw his support behind Andrew Embley, who suffered a knee injury early in the pre-season.

"Embley's program up until that stage, he was in the top few in the way he was tracking," Worsfold said.

"In a way we would have lightened him off anyway at some stage, so it's been a pretty good preparation for him.

"He's fit to go, I'm leaning towards playing him.

"His pre-season training was outstanding.

"I feel he's ready to go and I'll be pushing for him to be in the side."

Worsfold expected Adam Selwood (knee) to be fit to tackle Brisbane but Josh Kennedy, who has battled a foot injury, is set to play in the WAFL.

Premiership defender Beau Waters will miss the entire season due to a serious elbow injury.

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