source: http://realfooty.com.au/news/news/the-e ... 52976.html
KANGAROOS champion Wayne Carey believes West Coast's premiership hopes are on life support, citing Daniel Kerr's potentially season-ending finger surgery as the knockout blow in a flag defence riddled by setbacks.
Carey doubted whether the Eagles could overcome the loss of Kerr, who will be sidelined for at least six weeks after a successful operation yesterday to repair a ruptured tendon in the ring finger of his left hand.
"They're going to find it very hard to win the premiership with him missing that many games, very hard," Carey said. "It obviously puts enormous pressure on the Eagles, no question about that.
"I rate Kerr every bit as highly as (Chris) Judd, and with him out, they aren't going to have the same amount of run they normally get. The likes of (Michael) Braun and (Andrew) Embley, when he gets back, and (Adam) Selwood are going to have to give more run now. He's the hardest nut of them all and in finals, you need hard nuts."
Bookmakers around the country were of the same view as Carey, with TAB Sportsbet winding the Eagles' premiership quote from $3.75 to $4.20 and it believed the price could swell even further.
Conversely, Geelong was tightened from $2.25 on Monday to $2 yesterday and could be odds-on should it take care of Port Adelaide at Skilled Stadium on Sunday.
West Coast, needing to win against St Kilda tomorrow night to keep alive its chances of finishing second and securing two home finals throughout September, also was on the nose with punters for the Telstra Dome match.
When betting was suspended yesterday morning, the Eagles were $1.62 in head-to-head markets to beat St Kilda, which was $2.20.
Once it was confirmed that Kerr, who was hurt in a tackle late in the win over Richmond, would be missing until the grand final at best, West Coast was $1.78 with St Kilda $1.95.
Carey said Kerr's absence, on the back of injury blows to decorated trio Judd, Ben Cousins and Embley, left the premier vulnerable at the most important stage of the season.
"They can still do a little bit of damage in the finals because of the class they've still got in their side, but they are chasing their tail," Carey said.
"A lot of luck goes into winning premierships and suspensions or injuries can impact on a team's chances."
Eagles coach John Worsfold said Kerr had made the correct decision in opting for surgery, saying the option was to play on and have a "mangled finger for the rest of his life".
ps: i hope it is all over for the eagles so we can smash them
