SETBACK: West Coast's Mark Nicoski has been placed on the long-term injury list. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper Source: PerthNow
WEST Coast veteran Mark Nicoski's career is at the crossroads after being placed on the long-term injury list again.
Nicoski, who missed all of last season after a severe hamstring injury in the NAB Cup Grand Final, is unlikely to be available until the second-half of the season. It is a serious blow for the 29-year-old, who has been battling in his recovery and is on a one-year contract.
Nicoski had originally targeted a NAB Cup return and hoped to push his claims for Round 1 but the club has become increasingly concerned with his progress over the past two months as his body struggled to cope with his rehab program.
The popular clubman, who played in the Eagles' losing Grand Final team in 2005 but missed the premiership a year later, remains adamant his career is not over.
"There has not been a setback per se, it's just a matter of backing it off a little over the next couple of months, managing and manipulating my training loads," he told the club's website.Nicoski enjoyed a career-best season in 2011 but would have to prove himself for an extended period in the WAFL before pushing for selection later this year.
He may find it tough to break into the West Coast team if it is performing strongly. The decision to return Nicoski to the long-term injury list continues the Eagles' turbulent build-up to the season.
West Coast is preparing to throw off-season pickups Jamie Cripps and Mark Hutchings straight into the cauldron of the Round 1 Western Derby on Saturday amid its midfield injury crisis. Cripps, secured in a trade deal after playing 16 games for St Kilda, impressed during the NAB Cup and is a likely inclusion for the clash with Fremantle.
Hutchings had not originally been pencilled in for a Round 1 debut and has been playing for West Perth in WAFL pre-season fixtures in recent weeks.
But the 21-year-old was held out of the Falcons' side for yesterday's match against East Perth. The Eagles are looking for options to bolster their ball-winning division with key midfielders Daniel Kerr (knee), Sharrod Wellingham (ankle) and Matt Rosa (thigh) all sidelined.
An AFL debut in the derby would continue a fairytale turnaround for Hutchings, who was taken in the rookie draft by St Kilda in 2010 but dumped after one season without playing a senior game. He starred in the WAFL for the past two season before being selected by the Eagles at No.60 in last November's national draft.
In a fresh approach to the derby build-up ahead of the 37th meeting between the two clubs, coaches Ross Lyon and John Worsfold will hold their official pre-match press conference at the WA Maritime Museum in Fremantle on Wednesday.
West Coast remains favourite despite its injury woes, with the Eagles at $1.60 and the Dockers paying $2.35.
The derby is set to be played at a frenetic intensity, with the combatants in the unusual situation of having a fortnight to recover. The Dockers have a 14-day break before their Round 2 trip to face the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium, while the Eagles will have 15 days before they host Hawthorn.
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