3 minute read

West Coast have reduced Josh Kennedy's training loads to try to manage the battle-weary AFL forward.

West Coast coach Adam Simpson is hopeful he can get Josh Kennedy fit for the start of the AFL season despite having to "de-load" the star forward.

Kennedy jogged and walked laps on Monday at training, taking a step back after his heavy running loads during the Christmas period.

Simpson said it was important to take a cautious approach with the 31-year-old, who underwent off-season shoulder surgery and had been plagued in recent years by other injuries.

"We just had a bit of a de-load on JK as he went really hard pre-Christmas and in January, so we'll build him back up and get him up for round one, hopefully," Simpson said.

"We've just got to be patient with his body and understand he's not 24 anymore.

"He's just had an interrupted three or four years. So we've just got to read the cues of his body.

"If he pulls up a bit sore, we pull him back."

Elliot Yeo (toe), Jeremy McGovern (ribs), Tom Barrass (foot), Daniel Venables (knee) and Jake Waterman (ankle) are others on the comeback trail from injuries.

Goalsneak Jamie Cripps (toe) has already been ruled out of the start of the season.

"He's pretty much starting pre-season now," Simpson said of Cripps.

With Mark LeCras retired, Cripps to miss the early part of the season and Kennedy no guarantee to play in round one, West Coast's forward line will take on a vastly different look when they start their premiership defence on March 23 against Brisbane at the Gabba.

Simpson said the club would hold an intra-club game on Friday as preparations built for their March 1 pre-season clash with Geelong.