West Coast Eagles spearhead Josh Kennedy opens up on latest shin injury
Chris Robinson and Bridget LacyThe West Australian
Tuesday, 31 July 2018 9:34AM
Simpson speaks
1:54 | 7 News Perth
Simpson speaks
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West Coast coach Adam Simpson speaks after the weekend loss and ahead of the derby.
West Coast spearhead Josh Kennedy has revealed a knee to the shin from teammate Tom Cole as the reason heāll miss this weekendās derby - and possibly beyond.
Kennedy didnāt fly to Hobart for the Eaglesā loss to North Melbourne due to the incident at training last week, with the forward all but ruling himself out of a return against Fremantle on Sunday.
Speaking to 6PR this morning, Kennedy said the latest knock had left him sore following the hairline fracture at the top of the fibula on the same right leg that kept him out of action earlier in the season.
āThe previous knock I had... I just got another knock at training, which was not on the spot but around that area,ā he said.
āItās pulled up a bit sore, and we kind of thought it would pull up a bit better from (last) Thursday to Saturday, but it didnāt.
āTo get another knock and not be able to run, turn, lead or participate in training was disappointing.ā
Josh Kennedy wonāt face the Dockers.Picture: Getty Images
Kennedy outed the training culprit as Cole, who was yesterday crowned this weekās Rising Star nominee after an encouraging season in defence.
āHeās given me a knee and heās copped the award this week,ā Kennedy said with a laugh.
Cole addressed the incident at a press conference later in the morning.
"It was a funny one," Cole said. "I didn't even know I did that until we looked at the vision after training.
āIt was just one of those things during training - we have knocks. It's a physical game. It was just a contest where we hit each other. I shouted him a coffee during the week, so we're all good now.
āWe're on good terms. It was a bit incidental. I didn't even know what happened.ā
Cole admitted he felt a little bad.
"Yeah I do," he said. "He's a pretty important part of our team. But he forgave me pretty quick. Hopefully we get him back pretty soon."
West Coast remain in second place following the Kangaroos loss, but face a fight to hold their all-important top-two spot over the last four weeks of the season.
The Eagles travel to South Australia to take on fellow flag contenders Port Adelaide after this weekendās derby, with Kennedy eyeing a return against the Power.
āIām hoping to - thatās the plan,ā Kennedy said of a comeback against Port.
āWeāve just got to make sure this settles and I can get through a bit of training this week.
āIf I canāt train this week, then itās probably unlikely for next week.ā
Kennedyās absence will be felt against the Dockers on Sunday, with the two-time Coleman Medallist having booted 19 goals in his past four derby outings.