West Coast Eagles premiership forward Willie Rioli to miss five weeks

Willie Rioli will be out of action for five weeks after West Coast confirmed a bone stress injury in his left foot.

The club said the pain Rioli had been suffering had eased but they would take a cautious approach to managing a delicate injury.

“It is resolving itself from a pain perspective, but it’s a really delicate one that we need to treat accordingly,” Eagles general manager of football Craig Vozzo told the club’s website.

“We re-scanned it recently and the doctor’s advice is that we give it more time to settle.

“Willie will be doing some aerobic training and a lot of off-legs stuff. We’ll have a graduated build up from here, which is quite conservative given the nature of the injury.”

Rioli complained of the injury in early March, following West Coast’s JLT Community Series win over Fremantle at Rushton Park.

The 23-year-old had been earmarked for midfield time after returning from the club’s off-season break in peak physical condition.

Rioli’s absence is offset by the return of Andrew Gaff, who served his eight-game suspension for punching Fremantle teenager Andrew Brayshaw.

An injury cloud hangs over half-back Liam Duggan (knee), while veteran defender Will Schofield (quad) could push for selection.

Opponents Collingwood have concerns of their own, with a medical report detailing Dylan Grimes’ concussion symptoms threatening the Magpies’ chances of fielding Mason Cox in Saturday’s grand final rematch at the MCG.

Cox will challenge a one-match suspension handed down for rough conduct on Grimes at an AFL Tribunal hearing tonight.

The Magpies are poised to welcome back star ball magnet Taylor Adams, who has all but recovered from surgery to repair a finger tendon injury.