Damian Barrett: 'No Doubt There's A Worry' About Nic Naitanui's Knee

'Despite what the club's saying.'


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Triple M's Damian Barrett says, despite what West Coast is saying, there is "no doubt" a worry about Nic Naitanui's knee.

The Eagles are confident Naitanui is on schedule to return to footy, having not played a game since he tore his anterior cruciate ligament late in 2016.

But Barrett is hearing word out of Perth that suggests there's a bit more to be concerned about.

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"We always take people at their word, don’t we, and the club itself is saying there’s nothing major to see here, move on, we’re on schedule," he told Triple M's Rush Hour with Jars and Louie on Wednesday.

"But there’s enough worrying talk coming out of Perth that I’m hearing that just makes me think there’s a little more at play here.

"We know that he got that rehab going in a pretty significant way last year to the point where he was being discussed as a serious candidate to play against Port Adelaide...things went a little awry prior to Christmas."

Barrett said it's a "worry" that Naitanui hasn't made that final step in his rehab.

"The bone on bone nature of the injury is something that he’s dealt with for some time," he said.

"He’s just, at the moment, afraid to go through that patch where you’re going to be really stretching it and putting yourself back into the unknown.

"Three and a bit weeks before round one, it’s a worry. There’s no doubt it’s a worry right now with what’s happening, despite what the club is saying."

Ethan Meldrum

28 February 2018

Article by:

Ethan Meldrum




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