WEST Coast is taking a risk-free approach to Jack Darling's recovery from a foot stress fracture, with the key forward headlining a host of Eagles on the comeback trail this pre-season.
Key defender Eric Mackenzie (hip surgery), veteran backman Beau Waters (shoulder), midfielder Sharrod Wellingham (knee/shin) and tall utility Jeremy McGovern (hip) are on light pre-Christmas duties in their returns from injury.
Although Darling, 22, will be restricted in his running before the new year, the Eagles are not concerned about his fitness leading into 2015.
"He's still recovering and we have a pretty conservative plan with Jack," football manager Craig Vozzo told the Sunday Times.
"He’s got such a huge base to be batting off over the past four years.
"We actually have no concerns with his fitness, we just have to make sure we take no risk at all.
"So it will be a really conservative build up for Jack and he is able to do lots of cross training as well.
"We just want to minimise how much running and on-ground work that he does, in the pre-Christmas phase in particular."
Darling played all 22 matches last season as the Eagles finished ninth on the ladder.
It was the second-straight season West Coast has missed finals.
The club was largely inactive during the recent trade and delisted free agency periods, preferring to go to the draft – where it has picks 11, 32 and 51 in the first three rounds – and to back its existing list.
Vozzo said the Eagles expected more from high-profile recruit Wellingham, who they gave up pick No.18 (Brodie Grundy) to Collingwood for in the 2012 NAB AFL draft, in his third season at the club next year.
Wellingham, 26, has played only 23 games at West Coast after battling ankle, knee and now shin issues, while his indifferent form saw him dropped three times this year.
"We made a big investment when we recruited Sharrod," Vozzo told the Herald Sun.
"He is in the last of a rehab phase, so we are hoping he won't have any interference with his pre-season program.
"But he has a lot to do, a lot of ground to make up.
"His talent is undoubted, it's just whether we can see it consistently at AFL level.
"The challenge is with him and we are going to support him to get the best out of himself, but it is a big year for Sharrod."
Vozzo said former vice-captain Waters is making steady progress in his recovery from a long-term shoulder problem.
The 28-year-old hard-nut missed all of last season after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction and has not played since round 15, 2013.
"Beau will be on limited program with his shoulder with non-contact, but he is running well," Vozzo said.
Meanwhile, the Eagles are set to appoint a new captain, with best-and-fairest full-back Mackenzie, defender Shannon Hurn, Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis, midfielder Scott Selwood and key forward Josh Kennedy the leading candidates.
"My preference is to do it sooner rather than later, but I reckon it is going to take a good part of the pre-Christmas phase to get done," Vozzo said.
