Knee puts LeCras out for the year
02/17/2012 03:03:53 AM
West Coast's worst fears have been confirmed on Friday with star forward Mark LeCras to miss the entire 2012 campaign with a knee injury.
The 25-year-old slumped to the Patersons Stadium turf at training on Thursday after chasing the ball and twisting his right knee as he tried to change direction.
LeCras, the Eagles' 2010 club champion who booted 47 goals last year as they finished in the top four, was sent for scans on Thursday night.
And while West Coast coach John Worsfold would have been hoping for positive news, the club has confirmed that he has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament, forcing him to undergo a season-ending reconstruction.
Having kicked 234 goals in his 100-game career, LeCras is an integral member of the Eagles' line-up and was one of the keys last year as they rebounded from the wooden spoon in 2010.
In the past three seasons alone he has finished with 58, 63 and 47 majors.
Blessed on the injury front in 2011 as they made it all the way to the preliminary final before succumbing to eventual premiers Geelong, the loss of LeCras is a huge blow to West Coast's hopes of at least matching last year or perhaps improving again.