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West Coast veteran Andrew Gaff can be enjoying for his spherical one spot within the membership’s pre-season hit-outs.
The 31-year-old got here underneath intense warmth as he struggled via the membership’s depressing season final 12 months.
Gaff was even recognized by damning figures because the worst kick within the competitors, which continued a gradual decline in his ball use since even earlier than he grew to become a premiership participant in 2018.
However he was one in every of simply 4 Eagles gamers to characteristic in all 23 video games in 2023.
He was used because the substitute within the membership’s defeat to Richmond in spherical 18, however got here on early and completed with 24 disposals, after accumulating simply six towards Brisbane the week earlier than.
His efficiency within the heavy defeat to the Lions was described as “insipid” in a bombshell evaluation by West Coast legend Glen Jakovich.
The Eagles have their closing main inner hit-out in an intra-club match on Saturday morning, earlier than a follow match with Fremantle the next weekend and a visit to Adelaide to play the Crows in an official pre-season fixture.
Coach Adam Simpson says the membership now has sufficient wing choices that Gaff should compete for his spot, however he hopes the veteran wins out.
He additionally claimed the midfielder has battled secret accidents in recent times.
“I hope so. He’s clearly coming off an detached 12 months and a very difficult couple of years as effectively, along with his physique,” Simpson advised SEN on Tuesday.
“He’s coming off a few accidents that maybe not many individuals learn about.
“However he doesn’t complain, he simply will get on with it.
“We’re searching for his finest model, which most likely is on that wing and his operating profile suggests he has acquired again to a few of the numbers he was producing just a few years in the past.
“It’s most likely up for grabs that wing spot, for a variety of gamers which were coaching fairly exhausting on it.
“However Gaffy is as a lot likelihood as anybody.”
As his spot got here underneath scrutiny final season, it additionally emerged that Gaff could be open to a transfer to a rival membership if they might fulfill the Eagles on the commerce desk.
However nothing eventuated, and Gaff will stay one of many highest-paid gamers within the league in 2024, the ultimate season of a six-year mega-deal.
Based on Champion Knowledge, Gaff performed 61 per cent of his recreation time on a wing final season. His breakdown additionally included 24 per cent as a real midfielder and 14 per cent up ahead.
Campbell Chesser is coaching strongly this 12 months and has been trialled on a wing within the injury-plagued begin to his 12 months, whereas draftee Clay Corridor might additionally compete for that function this 12 months.
Simpson stated on Tuesday he anticipated Corridor could be handed a senior debut as some level this 12 months.
Chesser performed 82 per cent of his 14 matches on the wing, whereas the now-delisted Greg Clark performed 91 per cent of his 12 video games within the function after breaking into the aspect halfway via the season.
Luke Edwards and Jayden Hunt had been additionally prolific on the wing, whereas Brady Hough spent greater than 20 per cent of his time there however has moved right into a extra everlasting function within the workforce’s backline.
“Expectations are that he continues to develop his professionalism, his capacity to play 120 minutes, execute a job for us, contribute in workforce defence, all these issues that take two or three years,” Simpson stated of Corridor as he prepares to battle for a spot.
“But it surely wouldn’t shock me if he acquired uncovered to some senior soccer this 12 months.”
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