COACH Mark Neeld is optimistic about defender Jack Watts returning for Saturday’s clash against Greater Western Sydney at Manuka Oval.
Neeld said Watts, who has missed the past five matches with an ankle injury, was right in the mix to return after training at AAMI Park on Wednesday.
“[We] haven’t got the final approval [from the medical staff], but he trained fully and hopefully [he’ll play],” he said.
“Hopefully the medicos say that he’s good to go.”
Ruckman Mark Jamar, who has played just one of the past seven matches due to a calf injury, is also a chance to return via the VFL this weekend.
“[He’s] not this week. He’s not a chance for the AFL,” Neeld said.
“Since the bye, he’s played one full game and in the second game, he played a quarter, so he needs a couple of weeks.
“Depends on how Mark pulls up [from training], we might bring him back through Casey, so we’ll see how he goes. At this stage, he won’t be up for AFL selection.”
Neeld said forward Liam Jurrah, who played his first VFL match last Sunday after being sidelined since round eight, due to an ankle injury, would be unlikely to play in the AFL by season’s end.
“I’m not sure [if he’ll play in the AFL again this year]. I got really excited early. Liam was on the ground for about 10 seconds and picked up the ball and went left and then right and slotted one through,” he said.
“I thought about getting to [Casey coach] Brett Lovett and saying ‘right [Liam] can come [off the ground and play against] GWS’. But he didn’t finish the last quarter running on top of the ground and that’s fair enough, because he hasn’t played since May.
“He just needs to string a couple of games in a row. Seeing as there is only three games left, it’s unlikely, but you can never, say never.”
Neeld was adamant he didn’t want to rush Jurrah back.
“We need to make sure we set people up to succeed - not set them up to fail,” he said.
“If Liam’s not fit enough to play AFL footy, it could be a disaster.
“No one can play AFL footy if their fitness level doesn’t warrant it - it can have a detrimental impact on everybody.”
Neeld said Watts, who has missed the past five matches with an ankle injury, was right in the mix to return after training at AAMI Park on Wednesday.
“[We] haven’t got the final approval [from the medical staff], but he trained fully and hopefully [he’ll play],” he said.
“Hopefully the medicos say that he’s good to go.”
Ruckman Mark Jamar, who has played just one of the past seven matches due to a calf injury, is also a chance to return via the VFL this weekend.
“[He’s] not this week. He’s not a chance for the AFL,” Neeld said.
“Since the bye, he’s played one full game and in the second game, he played a quarter, so he needs a couple of weeks.
“Depends on how Mark pulls up [from training], we might bring him back through Casey, so we’ll see how he goes. At this stage, he won’t be up for AFL selection.”
Neeld said forward Liam Jurrah, who played his first VFL match last Sunday after being sidelined since round eight, due to an ankle injury, would be unlikely to play in the AFL by season’s end.
“I’m not sure [if he’ll play in the AFL again this year]. I got really excited early. Liam was on the ground for about 10 seconds and picked up the ball and went left and then right and slotted one through,” he said.
“I thought about getting to [Casey coach] Brett Lovett and saying ‘right [Liam] can come [off the ground and play against] GWS’. But he didn’t finish the last quarter running on top of the ground and that’s fair enough, because he hasn’t played since May.
“He just needs to string a couple of games in a row. Seeing as there is only three games left, it’s unlikely, but you can never, say never.”
Neeld was adamant he didn’t want to rush Jurrah back.
“We need to make sure we set people up to succeed - not set them up to fail,” he said.
“If Liam’s not fit enough to play AFL footy, it could be a disaster.
“No one can play AFL footy if their fitness level doesn’t warrant it - it can have a detrimental impact on everybody.”
