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Training/Injury Update

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from westcoasteagles.com.au

Doubt on Eagle Gaspar for round one
Jordan Chong
afl.com.au
4:53:35 PM Fri 21 November, 2003



Injury-troubled West Coast key position player Travis Gaspar may not make it to the starting line for the 2004 season.

That was the view of Eagles coach John Worsfold, who told the club’s Melbourne-based members on Friday Gaspar was working hard to overcome a persistent foot problem.


“There’s a big doubt about whether he’ll be right at the start of the season. He hasn’t been able to string a lot of games together,” Worsfold said.

“Travis has got an unstable record of being able to string games together but we’re hopeful once he gets over this one he’ll be right.

“(From) the glimpses he’s shown, we all know he’s good enough.”

The 22-year-old has managed 21 games in three seasons at the Eagles and is on a limited program at the moment due to the stress fractures.

“He may be able to start the season but he’s doing a limited program at the moment,” Worsfold said.

“Our medical staff are confident that he’ll be fit enough to start the season if he has no setbacks.

“We’re all hopeful and I’m confident he can do it.

“He’s probably ahead of the other guys because he’s already played AFL football and played it well.”

During the lunch-time address, Worsfold also updated the members on the progress of Andrew Embley and Michael Gardiner.

Embley had a plate removed from his collarbone three weeks ago and is ‘tracking along really well’. He will start physical training in about three weeks.

Gardiner will resume serious training after Christmas, with the club is holding him back to be on the safe side.

“His knee just needs rest. The longer you leave it, the better it’s going to be so we’re holding Gardiner back, which is very frustrating for him.”

Worsfold thought it likely Gardiner would be fit for round one.

Callum Chambers and Kane Munro will look to begin full training from shoulder problems in a few weeks. Daniel Kerr also had some surgery to repair an ache in his hamstring.

Worsfold was comfortable about West Coast’s tall options along its spine for next season, foreshadowing the use of emerging young player Brent Staker in a defensive role in 2004.

And he believed a ‘super-fit’ Jakovich would play a crucial role in giving the young brigade some leadership and support on the ground

“I’m hoping that the roles he’ll play will be assisting these young tall players and improving them.”


some interesting comments in this article.

staker in defence is an interesting one. i think we all know that he will play this year but i would hope that he has bulked up a bit if he is going to be playing down back.

bad news about gaspar. he so need this bloke up and running this year.
 
A move of Staker into defence is a very good idea. That was his original position of choice in the magoos, and personally I'm confident he has all the attributes to be an outstanding FB- only thing he's lacking is the body, so its really down to how long he takes to fill out. I suppose if he worked his arse off, he could get there by next year, but you'd think we won't really see an KP ready Staker until 2005...

As for Gaspar, well there seems to be two different spins on it.. contrast:

“There’s a big doubt about whether he’ll be right at the start of the season. He hasn’t been able to string a lot of games together,”

with

“He may be able to start the season but he’s doing a limited program at the moment,” Worsfold said.

“Our medical staff are confident that he’ll be fit enough to start the season if he has no setbacks.

“We’re all hopeful and I’m confident he can do it.

Hmm. All I can say is I hope that this time we give him as much time as he needs. If he doesn't pull on his boots till round 5, 10, or whatever, I'm not fussed, but it'd be nice if we knew that whenever he actually does finally make it back onto the park, it'll be for good. The clock is ticking for Gassy- if we get to the end of '04 and he still hasn't strung together a few games, then questions are going to start to be asked as to whether he'll ever be able to shake the foot problems.
 

some interesting comments in this article.

staker in defence is an interesting one. i think we all know that he will play this year but i would hope that he has bulked up a bit if he is going to be playing down back.

bad news about gaspar. he so need this bloke up and running this year.

I think Staker in defence would be great, although I can remember the goals he kicked in the Hawks game at Subiaco, and they were fantastic. Ohwell, as we say here on bigfooty, in Woosha we trust!

I hope to god Gaspar doesnt have any setbacks because we need him on the field. We all know how good he COULD be. Whether we play him forward or back is another threads conversation. But his height and skills make it so much easier for us imo.
 
Originally posted by Mead
The clock is ticking for Gassy- if we get to the end of '04 and he still hasn't strung together a few games, then questions are going to start to be asked as to whether he'll ever be able to shake the foot problems.

Agreed. If he doesnt do something in 2004 then I reckon he never will. We dont have the time to wait for him to start getting regular games. Our time to win premierships and be the best in the league is just about upon us. Our best players are at their peak as far as age goes and we have some great young players coming up. We'll get absolutely nowhere and waste the midfielders and Gardiner and the talent they have if we dont get our defence in order and our Forward line cracking. We need these talls we have to start firing. GASPAR HAS TO GET ON THE PARK!
 

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Originally posted by carlyp
Agreed. If he doesnt do something in 2004 then I reckon he never will. We dont have the time to wait for him to start getting regular games. Our time to win premierships and be the best in the league is just about upon us. Our best players are at their peak as far as age goes and we have some great young players coming up. We'll get absolutely nowhere and waste the midfielders and Gardiner and the talent they have if we dont get our defence in order and our Forward line cracking. We need these talls we have to start firing. GASPAR HAS TO GET ON THE PARK!

Am I the only one here who thinks that footy isn't that cut-throat?

I know we are all chomping at the bit for him to get right, but he is still very young for a KP player. I'd still give him a lot longer than this year to get right. The fact remains, he is just about the most 'skillful' big man we have. there is room in football to allow a few players time to develop. Look what melbourne did with Schwarz ... Just let him rest and come good in his own time. I'm not saying give him five years, but surely more than this year? CHF's do not grow on trees at our club. Gaspar could be quality for many years to come, so why would you throw him away in his early 20's?

Also, i think the Staker to defence is a move to cover for Gaspar. I was all ready for Mitchell White part.II on the HF line, and now here is all this CHB talk. Bah! let him roam forward. Throw Lynch to CHB.

now get off Travis' back.

rant over

thegur
 
Originally posted by dasler
Is Gaspar ever going to string some games together? We've been waiting and waiting for the last 4 years.

Might have to rename him Travis Merenda. :(
 
Originally posted by thegur
Am I the only one here who thinks that footy isn't that cut-throat?

I know we are all chomping at the bit for him to get right, but he is still very young for a KP player. I'd still give him a lot longer than this year to get right. The fact remains, he is just about the most 'skillful' big man we have. there is room in football to allow a few players time to develop. Look what melbourne did with Schwarz ... Just let him rest and come good in his own time. I'm not saying give him five years, but surely more than this year? CHF's do not grow on trees at our club. Gaspar could be quality for many years to come, so why would you throw him away in his early 20's?

Also, i think the Staker to defence is a move to cover for Gaspar. I was all ready for Mitchell White part.II on the HF line, and now here is all this CHB talk. Bah! let him roam forward. Throw Lynch to CHB.

now get off Travis' back.

rant over

thegur

Show me where I said that it was Gaspar's fault that he hadnt been able to string a few matches together! I realize it isnt his fault, god noone can help if he's had these injurys. The only thing that I can put it down to is BAD LUCK. All Im saying is that if he cant get on the park and stay there for along time in 2004 then we need to look elsewhere. Unfortunately it seems to me like Gaspar has an unfortunate body for AFL, in particular his feet. The world is a cruel place and sometimes due to injury/lack of the right kind of body athletes that 'could have' been champions dont get that oportunity because their body just doesnt work with them. Im not on Gaspars back.

We need KPP if were going to succeed from where we are as a club atm. We can't wait along time for Gaspar to come right. We need someone out there NOW that can play at CHB or CHF. Now we have Staker and Lynch and Mcdougal. Staker and Mcdougal still have alot of work to do before their ready to take on a KP. But they still should get a game because they need some development. Lynch should be getting a game, and I really dont understand why he isnt atm. We need Gaspar, if we have Gaspar on the ground we would come close to being the best team around.
 
Originally posted by carlyp
Agreed. If he doesnt do something in 2004 then I reckon he never will. We dont have the time to wait for him to start getting regular games.

Delist Gaspar, and draft a 17yr old rookie who will take 3 yrs to break into the senior team - if at all.

We could do worse than invest another 2-3 yrs in a player who could become an absolute gun.
 
He needs a bit of time to get back to full fitness/strength, but the other talls are more than able to take his place.

I wouldn't delist him, he's too valuable despite his chronic injuries.
 

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