{"id":381270,"date":"2025-12-30T22:16:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T22:16:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/381270\/"},"modified":"2025-12-30T22:16:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T22:16:11","slug":"rillie-optimistic-on-imports-timeline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/381270\/","title":{"rendered":"Rillie optimistic on import’s timeline"},"content":{"rendered":"

David Duke Jr. will be given every possible chance to return from injury before the Perth Wildcats consider a replacement import, coach John Rillie has confirmed.<\/p>\n

Duke Jr. suffered a suspected elbow injury during the first quarter of the Wildcats\u2019 loss to Adelaide on Sunday, sparking fears of a long-term absence.<\/p>\n

But Rillie is optimistic about the 26-year-old\u2019s chances of returning in the not-too-distant future.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019ll be reassessed in about a week,\u201d Rillie said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s one of those injuries where in the immediate future and how he recovers will determine the severity of the injury, then we try and work him back into it, but at this early stage it\u2019s just like let it settle down and then re-evaluate in about a week\u2019s time.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Rillie said Duke Jr. has escaped serious structural damage.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs you saw, as far as the dislocation or that type of stuff, nothing that way, but it\u2019s obviously made his elbow angry,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo how that settles over the next week and week to two weeks will really determine what the true outcome of it all is.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, the Wildcats coach admitted the club would need to keep all options open, with its Finals ambitions teetering on the brink after an inconsistent season so far.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou certainly have those conversations around all of that,\u201d Rillie said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow David\u2019s come in, what he\u2019s done for our group, I want to make sure we take care of him first and make sure that situation is dealt with in the appropriate manner.\u201d<\/p>\n

Perth travels to Brisbane to take on the Bullets on Thursday night.<\/p>\n

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