West Coast coach Adam Simpson has quashed rumours that Josh Kennedy is carrying a knee injury, but concedes skipper Shannon Hurn is in doubt for the start of the AFL finals.
Rumours swirled on Monday that Kennedy injured his knee at training last week and was in danger of missing Thursday night’s elimination final against Essendon.
But Simpson said it was nothing more than a knock to the shin, declaring the two-time Coleman Medallist a certain starter against the Bombers.
“I was a bit worried when I heard some of the news reports coming out today,” Simpson said tongue in cheek.
“He got a knock to his shin on Friday in a bit of match sim. He went off and came back on, and finished the rest of the day.
“I think a journalist must have seen that, and from that the Chinese whispers have spread around.
“There’s absolutely nothing wrong (with Kennedy).
“He’s right to go. He did a full session, and he’ll do a full session tonight. So absolutely no worries with JK.”
Hurn suffered a minor hamstring injury in the final-round loss to Hawthorn, and faces a race against time to prove his fitness in time for Thursday’s match.
Simpson said he will wait until Wednesday before making a call on Hurn’s availability.
“He’s got a slight hamstring … hamstring awareness we call that. That’s going to be a close one,” Simpson said.
“Not great timing. He did it in the first five minutes of the game against the Hawks and played the rest of the game.
“If anyone saw how he went about it, he was pretty limited. We’ll have to wait and see on him.
“I think when you go through these things you have to weigh up whether they can get through a full game. Those decisions are an element of risk at the back half of the season and in a final.”
Ruckman Nic Naitanui appears certain to return from an ankle injury barring a late setback.
Oscar Allen is a chance to be switched to defence if Hurn is ruled out.
But if the skipper plays, then the axe could fall on Jake Waterman to ensure there is room for Allen in the forward line.
Veteran defender Will Schofield is another option up Simpson’s sleeve on the selection front.
Essendon are confident star defender Michael Hurley (shoulder) will be fit to play, while skipper Dyson Heppell (foot), Cale Hooker (illness), Orazio Fantasia (hip) and Jake Stringer (hamstring) will all return.