Not for the first time this season West Coast coach Adam Simpson is turning to the depth on the list to replace a star, and losing gun ruckman Nic Naitanui presents another challenge ahead of a crunch game against Sydney.
Naitanui hurt his knee after landing from a centre bounce contest late in the uplifting win over Collingwood on Saturday, with the silver lining that he has a medial ligament injury rather than the dreaded anterior cruciate ligament.
The reigning dual John Worsfold medallist is set to be sidelined until the second half of the season in a tough blow for the Eagles.
“Really unfortunate the last probably two minutes of the game he went down. Fortunately, we’ve avoided the ACL, but he’ll be out for a while – we probably won’t see him until the second half of the season,” Simpson told Channel Seven.
“Really disappointing for Nic and for all of us. We’ve got to find a way to keep working through it and keep working on that adversity piece, but disappointing for Nic.”
The Eagles recruited ruck Luke Strnadica and tall forward Hugh Dixon, who can pinch-hit, as Supplemental Selection Period players before the season, adding to Bailey Williams and developing Callum Jamieson in the big man stocks for the unfortunate scenario of Naitanui going down.
“It’s opportunity for another player to step up and fill the void. Obviously Nic is a pretty big player to fill in for, so they’ve got to do it their own way,” Simpson said.
“They’ll all get opportunity throughout the next four or five weeks to see what they’ve got.
“We’ll get settled pretty quickly, but we’ve got some decisions to make.”
In another injury concern, emerging midfielder Luke Edwards was subbed out of the Collingwood win with groin soreness and has been sent for scans.
“A lot of the things we can’t avoid. That’s the game,” Simpson said.
“We’ve been dealing with it pretty well. We haven’t had the wins we would’ve liked but I think the players have handled themselves really well.
“The support staff and everyone around the football department are working their backsides off to get it right.
“It’s a moment in time, it’s unfortunate for us all but if we can stay tight and united we’ll get through it and we’ll look better at the end.
“I suppose (beating Collingwood) keeps our season alive. To be 0-4 makes it really difficult. A bit more relief more than anything. Really good reward for some pretty big adversity we’ve been dealing with.
“Pleased for the players and our supporters who have been following us.”
The Eagles’ next challenge is to host the in-form Swans at Optus Stadium under lights on Good Friday, with the coach hopeful of regaining some midfield star power including Luke Shuey, Elliot Yeo and Tim Kelly.
“We thought the guys held up really well on the weekend. The midfield was led by Jack Redden and Nic, and some of the guys who were coming through and learning their craft really stood up, in particular the last quarter,” Simpson said.
“Really proud of that, but to get some of those guys back we think that will make a huge difference to the power of the midfield but really proud of the guys who held up the fort.”
