Young West Coast midfielder Elijah Hewett is set to travel to Melbourne to consult with a specialist in an effort to enhance the strength of his foot while grappling with sesamoiditis. The 2022 first-round draft pick faced challenges with foot inflammation during his debut season last year, prompting a cautious approach this pre-season.

The Eagles are taking proactive steps to support the development of their emerging midfielder, opting for a conservative strategy to ensure Hewett’s long-term well-being. As part of this plan, Hewett will meet with Dr. Sue Mayes from the Australian Ballet in Victoria.

West Coast’s high-performance manager, Mat Inness, explained, “Elijah has been dealing with sesamoid pain for the past few years while playing. He’s still experiencing symptoms, so we’re sending him to a specialist physio who regularly handles these issues. We will provide an update on Elijah’s progress in due course.”

Hewett played in 14 matches during his inaugural AFL season last year, participating in the final 10 games of the home-and-away season, showcasing promising potential as a future player for West Coast.

His ongoing injury challenge adds to the pre-season challenges faced by Adam Simpson, as the Eagles gear up to begin the new season without small forward Liam Ryan due to a hamstring injury. Additionally, several other players are currently dealing with injuries, including reigning best and fairest Tim Kelly, who is nursing a hamstring issue.

Dom Sheed (foot), Josh Rotham (groin), Coby Burgiel (hamstring), and Archer Reid (knee) are also in the injury list. The Eagles have scheduled pre-season matches against Fremantle and Adelaide later this month in preparation for their Round 1 encounter with Port Adelaide on Sunday, March 17.