West Coast Eagles recruit Liam Baker limps off training field

West Coast Eagles' high-profile off-season recruit Liam Baker was forced from the field with an injury during a match simulation on Wednesday. Baker, a premiership player with Richmond, was acquired by the Eagles in a trade that saw them give up a first-round draft pick to the Tigers.

According to AFL.com, Baker limped off the ground towards the end of a 15-minute simulation in Perth, with his right ankle being wrapped before he headed to the rooms. This comes after the Eagles just announced that another premiership player, Elliot Yeo, had suffered a medial collateral ligament injury to his right knee, as well as ligament damage to his right ankle.

North Melbourne vice-captain Harry Sheezel says the club will rally around young midfielder George Wardlaw after he suffered another hamstring injury. The 20-year-old underwent scans after leaving the Kangaroos' training track early on Wednesday, with club officials unsure of the severity. However, given Wardlaw's history of hamstring issues prior to being drafted alongside Sheezel in 2022, the Kangaroos are concerned he may miss Round 1.

Wardlaw was taken with pick four in the draft, one spot behind Sheezel, and the pair have formed a close friendship. "I feel for George, I'm not too sure on the extent of it," Sheezel said. "We'll see how bad it is, but I feel for him and we'll get around him. He's put in a mountain of work over the last couple of years to get his body right, so if this is a setback for him, it's going to be tough. He was in great nick and ready to go, so hopefully he can still show what he can do this year."

North Melbourne assistant coach Leigh Adams said Wardlaw had completed 90 percent of the pre-season before the injury. "He was in great nick, his body was really strong and healthy, but unfortunately it looks like he's going to miss a bit of time," Adams said. "The one thing I know about George is that he's incredibly resilient, he's been through this a couple of times now, so he'll attack his rehab really hard and make sure he gets himself strong and healthy and ready to go, but how long that is, we're not sure yet."