West Coast premiership defender Will Schofield is still weighing up whether or not he will join the Eagles in their Gold Coast hub.
Veteran journalist Mark Duffield, from the West Australian, says the 31-year-old is continuing to consider forgoing the month away with the club so he can focus on family and business interests in Perth.
“Schofield is weighing it up. Difficult situation for ‘Schoey’. His wife has a full-time business, they’re trying to expand that,” he said on The Game podcast.
“He has some business interests here, he’s trying to expand them. He also has some expanding media interests here.
“If Schoey went, my understanding is that Schoey will only be playing for match payments and he’s not, at this stage, in their best 22. So in other words, he’s basically going for nothing.
“He may think if I stay here and keep training and they’re back within a month, I’m still a chance to have some impact on the season.”
The Eagles will call the Gold Coast home for the next four rounds of the ready to resume AFL season but if Schofield opts not to go, it could accelerate the end of his 190-game career according to Kane Cornes.
“I guess the issue for Will is if he doesn’t go, what does that mean for next year?” he said on Footy SA & WA.
“He’s 31, he’ll start season 2021 at 32 years of age, we know list sizes and salary caps are coming down.
“It could spell the end of his AFL career, as harsh as that sounds, if he refuses to go.”
Scott Watters believes Schofield’s shifting focus is pointing towards the wrapping up of his playing days.
“I think you might be right,” he added, agreeing with Cornes.
“Will Schofield has been a terrific servant of that football club. He’s played against players much bigger than him on so many different occasions and he’s played so many different roles.
“But he’s now starting to talk about business, family, outside media commitments. Normally when you are using those terms you are about to retire.
“Injuries will need to happen for Will to get back into this side.”
Additionally, Cornes feels that the shortened 2020 season is the perfect platform to keep a steady performer such as Schofield on the fringes for a 'break glass in case of emergency' type situation.
“I’d still be convincing him to go though because as we’ve seen, if a player goes down we know he can come straight in and play a role and play at the required level,” he said further.
“This year to win the premiership, which West Coast are one of four teams that are favourites, you are going to need 35-37 players to do that.
“It will be a big blow for them if he chooses not to go.”
Schofield played 14 games last season after 12 in 2018 which included the winning preliminary final and Grand Final. He was emergency for the Round 1 win over Melbourne back in March.
The Eagles resume the season against the Suns at Metricon Stadium on Saturday, June 13.