West Coast Ruckman Matt Flynn Suffers Hamstring Injury Ahead of Season Opener

West Coast Eagles’ ruckman Matt Flynn is facing a setback as he battles a hamstring tendon injury, putting his season debut in doubt just weeks before the highly-anticipated season opener.

Flynn, who recently transitioned from Greater Western Sydney as a free agent, sustained the injury during a routine ruck drill at the team’s captain’s run session. The incident forced him to be withdrawn from the weekend’s match simulation against Fremantle, leaving a significant void in West Coast’s ruck and forward lineup.

This development has thrust Bailey Williams into the spotlight as the team’s primary ruckman, disrupting plans to utilize him more prominently in the forward line to support Oscar Allen as an additional tall target.

The Eagles are navigating the situation cautiously, refraining from setting a definitive timeline on Flynn’s recovery. However, hamstring tendon injuries typically require an extended recovery period, often spanning around eight weeks.

West Coast’s season kick-off is just around the corner, with a clash against Port Adelaide scheduled at Adelaide Oval on March 17. The club’s football boss, Gavin Bell, expressed the following in a statement, ‘Unfortunately, it appears Matt has injured a hamstring tendon during a routine ruck drill yesterday.’

“We will gather further information over the weekend as we assess the extent of the injury and the possible timeline on his projected return to play.”

Throughout this pre-season, the Eagles have encountered several setbacks with key players like Jack Darling, Liam Ryan, Dom Sheed, and Elijah Hewett all sidelined due to various injuries. Additionally, Jeremy McGovern and Tyler Brockman were unavailable for Saturday’s match against Fremantle but are expected to rejoin the squad shortly.