WEST Coast premiership forward Jamie Cripps will miss the start of the AFL season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle.
The club on Monday confirmed Cripps will miss “the early rounds” of 2022 but did not reveal the full extent of the damage.
Such injuries have been known to sideline players for up to three months.
Cripps, who has played 199 AFL games, suffered the injury when attempting to tackle a teammate during a training drill last Friday.
The 29-year-old’s enforced stint on the sidelines is another blow for the Eagles ahead of their season opener at home to Gold Coast on March 20.
Captain Luke Shuey is still recovering from yet another hamstring setback and a cloud hangs over key forward Jack Darling’s availability.
Darling has failed to satisfy the league’s COVID-19 vaccination policy and has been unable to train with the Eagles since January 21.
Meanwhile, young star Oscar Allen’s workload is still being managed after he missed Monday’s training session.
The 22-year-old also missed sessions last week and did not feature in match simulation.
There is better news for defender Liam Duggan, who is recovering well after knee surgery.
(C) AAP 2022
