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Eagles to recall champs

Eagles to recall champs

19/08/2007 7:56 AM

West Coast coach John Worsfold says star playmakers Chris Judd and Ben Cousins should be available for Friday night's blockbuster against St Kilda next week after the pair were late withdrawals from the Eagles' 31-point win over Richmond on Saturday night.

Judd has been battling a groin injury since round 11 and was rested from the clash, while Cousins suffered a reoccurrence of a hamstring complaint at training on Friday that first flared when he returned from a club-imposed ban in early July.

Worsfold revealed it was Cousins' call to rule himself out of the Tigers clash, but the coach was confident his star midfielder would be fit to take on the Saints at the rock-hard Telstra Dome in six days time.

"He was pretty close but his hammy has been a concern since we left him out when he was ready to play against Brisbane," Worsfold said.

"It's worried him in the games he's played so we will try to get to the bottom of it, but I'm pretty confident there is no strain there and he'll be available next week."

"I asked him when we arrived at Telstra Dome last week if he was fit and ready to go, because we were worried about his hamstring, and he said that he was confident it was right but this week he wasn't."

"He rolled his ankle pretty badly last week and with his courage he played through the game but resting him tonight was the best thing for his ankle as well. He would have played with the ankle but then it would have been sore during the week again. Now he's going to get that right as well."

However, Judd will be more of a day-to-day proposition in regards to his groin.

"Juddy's problem is an ongoing management thing," Worsfold said.

"If either of them say on Wednesday that they don't think they are going to be right, then we probably won't take them. But my feel is they'll both be right and ready to go. But really we are going to have to wait and see how they feel on Wednesday."

Worsfold said he expected defenders Daniel Chick (throat) and Beau Waters (finger) to be available for selection next week, while Mark Nicoski, who will return to Subiaco in the WAFL this weekend, will be given another run in the WAFL next week.

With the calibre of Judd, Cousins and Andrew Embley out of the side, Daniel Kerr lifted superbly against Richmond and finished the match with 30 possessions in a best on ground performance.

"I think he knew there was more expectation that he needed to play well because we had the other guys out and I think he was looking forward to that challenge," Worsfold said.

"He knew he'd get the tightest tag because the other guys who normally get the tag weren't out there. With Embley, Cousins and Judd coming out of the side we asked the players to step up and take more of the workload and I think across the board that was pretty good."

As for Worsfold's favourite moment of the match from Kerr?

"I loved that flying spoil. That was the highlight," he said with a smile.

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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