Waterman injury set to force Allen to be full-time forward
West Coast coach Andrew McQualter has conceded a devastating season-ending shoulder injury to spearhead Jake Waterman could force co-captain Oscar Allen to return to attack permanently.
Waterman's season ended on Tuesday when the Eagles decided to put the 27-year-old in for a full shoulder reconstruction after it dislocated in a collision in the club's loss to Adelaide on Sunday.
It is a huge blow for first-year coach McQualter, with Waterman one of the in-form forwards of the AFL after kicking 70 goals in 28 games since the start of last season, earning a maiden All-Australian blazer in 2024.
'It's incredibly unfortunate to lose Jake for the rest of the year. He'll have surgery later this week or next week and miss the rest of the season. You never want to lose your leaders.,' McQualter said.
' He's doing well, we had a (training) session offsite (on Wednesday). He turned up, he's in good spirits. He's obviously disappointed to not be able to help the team on field but he'll be able to help us off-field no doubt.
'We're probably, in a way, a little bit fortunate we've got some guys in that position. Jack Williams, Archer Reid, Jobe Shanahan — guys that play that position at the moment.
'We'll just keep trying to choose the best guy available and who can help us the most.' Waterman's season is over after a shoulder injury. Credit: James Elsby / AFL Photos
Allen is set to be the focal point of the Eagles forward line in Waterman's absence, despite having spent time down back this year in a bid to rediscover his best form and help cover the loss of defender Jeremy McGovern.
Allen kicked a career-high 53 goals in 23 games only a few seasons ago but struggled to start this year as his future as a restricted free agent was put under the spotlight.
He spent two games in defence but returned to the forward line for the Eagles' drought-breaking win over St Kilda nearly a fortnight ago and has kicked four goals in his past two matches.
McQualter said Waterman's injury potentially created a situation where Allen was the main man in attack.
'To preface it, we will still play Oscar where needed. The team will always override any individual,' he said.
'Without Jake's leadership down there, Oscar will probably be more needed at that end of the ground.
'The actual role Oscar plays on field, the way he operates in our team it won't change to how it played last week. Our expectations will be exactly the same.' Oscar Allen and Andrew McQualter. Credit: Andrew Ritchie / The West Australian
Waterman's injury also opens up the chance for a young forward to earn a recall.
Jack Williams is fresh off four goals for the Eagles' WAFL side in a loss to West Perth, while Archer Reid played the first nine games of this season and impressed many with his athleticism and maturity for a second-year key position player.
'All the guys played quite well, Archer Reid's been competing really well,' McQualter said.
'We've seem Jobe (Shanahan) not at the weekend, but prior to that have a good month of footy there (up forward).'
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