The highly anticipated return of defender Shannon Hurn for a record-breaking appearance against Fremantle in tomorrow’s RAC Derby has been put on hold.
Hurn gave his troublesome soleus a minor tweak at today’s captain’s run at Mineral Resources Park and his 291st game – as well as his injured calf – has been put on ice.
While Hurn will watch from the sidelines, the good news is that champion forward Josh Kennedy, who step up to skipper the team, and lively forward Jack Petruccelle have been given the green light to resume.
Kennedy did not make the trip to Geelong last week because of an ankle injury sustained in an incident with Collingwood defender Mark Keane, so the return of the club’s greatest ever goal-kicker will add some potency up front.
As well, Petruccelle, who kicked four goals in his last outing against St Kilda in round four, has been cleared to return after a minor hamstring complaint at training leading into the Collingwood clash.
Unfortunately, another key pillar in the defensive structure, Tom Barrass also did not recover from damage caused when he hurt a shoulder late against Geelong, having done a good job against Cats spearhead Tom Hawkins, holding him to three goals despite an avalanche of opportunities inside their forward arc.
Developing key back Harry Edwards gets another opportunity at elite level and has been in good form for the WAFL Eagles.
So far his AFL experience is little more than a quarter, having suffered a head knock in the second quarter of his debut match against Geelong last year.
The other players exiting the team are midfielders Xavier O’Neill and Brayden Ainsworth (last week’s medical sub). They have been listed as emergencies with tall utility player Bailey Williams.
IN: Kennedy, Petruccelle, Edwards
OUT: McGovern, O'Neill, Barrass
