Key defender opts to have surgery, thus ending his 2014 premiership campaign.
The stoic bid by tough West Coast Eagles defender Beau Waters to avoid surgery on his troublesome right shoulder has failed and his season is over.
Waters, who had some ‘hardware’ from previous taken out of the shoulder in the off-season, fought to avoid another operation after the shoulder became infected.
He appeared to be progressing well in his bid to resume in the next couple of weeks until the joint “popped” out during a routine training session at Patersons Stadium yesterday.
So close to a resumption was he that senior coach Adam Simpson predicted a return within the next fortnight. But that was before yesterday’s heart-breaking episode.
Waters then resigned himself to requiring further medical intervention with the knowledge he would be unable to fudge his way through the rest of the season in the combative world of Australian football – particularly in light of the way he plays.
“Obviously it is very disappointing for Beau,” football manager Craig Vozzo said today.
“Ideally, he would have been able to play without the need for surgery, but given the circumstances there appears no choice.
“It seems most likely that he will undergo surgery in the next few weeks and that he will miss the season.
“It’s very unfortunate for him, but as he has done so many times, we expect he will soldier on, have the surgery and then go through a meticulous rehabilitation program to be back to full health as soon as possible.”
Waters, a member of the 2006 premiership team, has been a valued member and leader within the West Coast playing list and will doubtless enjoy the support of his teammates as he works his way back from the latest setback.
It is well documented that Waters has confronted more than his share of hurdles – many of them because of the way he attacks the game – but he has been able to rebound each time.
Sadly, the star defender has been heavily impacted in six of his 11 seasons at club since being drafted with selection 11 in the 2003 national draft.
The 28-year-old veteran of 120 games, was an All-Australian half-back two years ago in one of the rare seasons that he did not suffer a major injury.
Last year he was restricted to just seven games because of the shoulder injury, while groin and elbow injuries have also served to seriously impede his impact.
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