West Coast AFLW track watch: Amy Franklin absent ahead of match simulation against former club Fremantle

High-profile recruit Amy Franklin was a noticeable absentee as the Eagles prepare to face Fremantle in match simulation. ELIZA REILLY unpacks what she saw at West Coast’s main training session.

Will Amy Franklin play on Saturday? She was an absentee from training today.

A star recruit was absent as West Coast pushed itself to the limits at main training on Wednesday.

Ahead of the Eagles’ pre-season match simulation against Fremantle on Saturday, we reveal what we learnt from the high-intensity session.

Will Franklin face her former side?

High-profile recruit Amy Franklin was a noticeable absentee at main training on Wednesday as the Eagles gear up for their first clash against opposition this pre-season.

Franklin, 20, made the move from the Dockers to the Eagles in the trade period, adding further fuel to the cross-town rivalry. Franklin played 12 games for Fremantle, including all 10 in season seven, before requesting a trade.

Saturday poses Franklin’s first opportunity to come face-to-face with her former teammates with West Coast set to host Fremantle for some match simulation at Mineral Resources Park. But the key forward was one of only a handful of absentees at main training, casting some doubt on whether she’ll play her first unofficial game for the Eagles this weekend.

Franklin was later filmed on social media at the club’s weekly weights session.

Fitness a focus

Whatever the Eagles do this season, they’re going to be fit doing it.

There were no prisoners taken throughout a high-octane 90-minute session which put the players through several high-intensity, contested-based drills.

In the middle of one in-tight handballing drill, midfield coach Hamish Brayshaw stopped the exercise and got the players to pair up and wrestle each other to the floor. Brayshaw even got involved, happily taking on midfielders Emma Swanson and Bella Lewis.

Fitness is a big focus at West Coast this pre-season. Pic: West Coast

There was barely any time for breaks between each drill as the players ran between coaches and maintained a high level of intensity under duress. Players were told to keep their hands off their knees between repetitions and at one point, the group was warned they were at risk of being sent for a 400m sprint if they couldn’t get a certain drill right.

It’s the sort of intensity that will prepare West Coast’s young group perfectly for the perils of AFLW football. However, the Eagles’ basic skills did suffer slightly under fatigue as the session progressed.

The comebacks

West Coast has regained the services of several players who suffered long-term injuries last season in a big boost to the Eagles’ depth leading into round one.

Kellie Gibson is one of the ones to watch. The 27-year-old kicked West Coast’s opening goal of the season in round one last year before suffering a season-ending ACL injury just moments later. The forward is looking noticeably fitter and she even hit a personal bench press best in the gym post-training.

Second-year ruck Lauren Wakfer is also making a mark in her first official pre-season. Drafted with West Coast’s second pick last year, Wakfer sat out the entirety of season seven after arriving at the Eagles with an ACL tear. The 19-year-old moves well for a 180cm prospect and she was also clean below her knees.

Lauren Wakfer is gearing up for her debut AFLW season after recovering from an ACL. Picture: West Coast Eagles

Shanae Davison is also back in action after suffering an ACL injury in a pre-season game last year. The youngster has had an injury-interrupted career to date, playing just nine games. And while her skills were a touch rusty on Wednesday, there’s a lot of excitement in the West Coast camp when it comes to the high-flying pressure forward.

Evie Gooch (wrist) didn’t train on Wednesday but recently spoke about recording a personal best in West Coast’s two-kilometre time trial. While Emily Elkington is also back in action after a pre-draft knee injury delayed her start to life as an Eagle.

The casualty ward

Just a couple of Eagles spent Wednesday’s session in rehab, a strong indication of the squad’s health just a few weeks out from round one.

Beth Schilling is currently wearing a protective guard on her wrist but she was able to put in a solid block of running away from the main group. The defender played just three games last year.

Veteran Jess Sedunary was also limited to run-throughs and some light kicking with the only indication of an injury being some strapping around her quad and hamstring. But the defender moved freely.

Originally published as West Coast AFLW track watch: Amy Franklin absent ahead of match simulation against former club Fremantle