West Coast Eagles forward Liam Ryan remains a potential inclusion for Saturday night’s match against Richmond at Optus Stadium. The Eagles are pursuing their second win of the season, and Ryan’s participation hinges on a fitness test after he was listed as a test player in the official AFL injury report released last night.
Ryan has already missed three matches this season, including last weekend’s defeat to Port Adelaide, due to soreness following travel with the team. He also missed the club’s opening match of the season while recovering from a pre-season hamstring issue and was sidelined for their round four loss to the Giants due to illness.
At training yesterday at Mineral Resources Park, Ryan engaged in light running and skills work. Mat Inness, the Eagles’ high-performance manager, provided updates on Ryan’s condition, stating, “Liam got through main training last week, but presented with soreness on Friday. We didn’t want to take any risks for last weekend’s game, but he trained today and we’ll assess him again at our main session on Thursday.”
Injury Updates and Team Changes
Young key forward Archer Reid will be available for selection after being rested from the WAFL Eagles match against West Perth due to hamstring tightness. Inness explained, “Archer had some hamstring tightness following the main session last week. Being such a young player and having completed so much work, we decided to give him a week off. He fully trained today and will be available for selection this weekend.”
The club continues to monitor the recovery of Elliot Yeo, who is undergoing rehabilitation for an ankle injury. He is currently listed as ‘to be confirmed’ but is unlikely to play again this season.
There is also optimism regarding Tim Kelly, who may return to the midfield after a strong performance in the WAFL, where he recorded 27 disposals and scored two goals. Kelly has predominantly played as a half-forward in recent weeks but may be needed in the midfield due to Jack Graham‘s suspension for another three matches.
In addition to Kelly, defenders Sandy Brock and Bo Allan, winger Jayden Hunt, and young midfielder Tom Gross are also in contention, pushing for selection as the Eagles aim to bolster their lineup for the crucial clash against Richmond.
As the team prepares for the match, the focus remains on getting key players back to full fitness and securing a vital win in their quest for a successful season.
