West Coast champion Shannon Hurn has assured fans he will be over his Achilles soreness in time for an emotional farewell game in round 24 against Adelaide.
The veteran missed the heart-breaking one-point defeat to Essendon in Melbourne, and the injury has now robbed him of the chance to play in his final western derby on Saturday night.
But the 332-gamer was quick to assure fans he would be ready for what has been billed as a farewell tribute match for him and skipper Luke Shuey at Optus Stadium in the season’s final round.
“My Achilles has pulled up sore from my last game against North Melbourne, so it hasn’t quite come good,” he told AFL 360.
“Unfortunately, that’s what happens when you get a little bit older; things don’t work as well as they used to.
“I’ve been able to train and run this week, which has been good, so it’s all progressing to be able to play against Adelaide in the last round.
“The Derbies have always been brilliant to play in, and it will be disappointing not to play in another one.”
Hurn is the Eagles’ games record holder and became the third man to captain the club, during his tenure between 2015 and 2019, to a premiership in a thrilling 2018 grand final triumph against Collingwood.
The 35-year-old made the All-Australian team twice, once as vice-captain and won the Glendinning/Allan Medal three times for best on the ground in a derby.
He also revealed what his post-AFL life might look like.
“I have a few mates who are still playing back home, so maybe I might give cricket a go, but I think at this stage I will just have a bit of a spell,” he said.