West Coast coach Adam Simpson is hopeful star midfielder Elliot Yeo and in-form forward Jake Waterman will be available next round as the Eagles sweat on injuries to Jeremy McGovern and Jack Petruccelle.
McGovern suffered internal injuries and was taken to hospital during the 66-point loss to Collingwood on Sunday at Marvel Stadium.
Petruccelle was subbed out during the second quarter with a suspected “tiny syndesmosis” injury in his ankle, further souring the tough defeat to the reigning premiers.
Yeo (groin) and Waterman (concussion protocols) both missed the trip east after going down in the narrow defeat to Essendon in round eight.
“I know (McGovern) wasn’t good enough to come back on and he’s got a knock, so I can’t give you any more,” Simpson said post-match.
“It might be a tiny syndesmosis (for Petruccelle) but we don’t really know. We thought we could get him back but we didn’t want to risk it.
“It put us on the back foot a little bit, especially with Collingwood’s speed. We missed him.”
After being dominated in the opening half and trailing by 55 points, the Eagles managed to get a toehold after the long break and won the final term, stemming the Pies’ free scoring and fast footy.
“I reckon this time last year if that had of happened at half-time though I don’t reckon we would’ve fought like we did in the second half,” Simpson said.
“I don’t think it would’ve been a pretty game in the second half, which is what we were trying to do, but I think it’s different (to last year).
“I think we got overwhelmed early by Collingwood’s pressure which – they’re back. The centre bounces we conceded seven goals I think to half-time, or something like that, which you take that out … the game’s over at half-time.
“Those things in particular were the two main things that we didn’t manage at all. But the second half we tried a few things; we put 'Duggo' (Liam Duggan) on ball, Reuben (Ginbey) went back, we lost McGovern, we lost Petrucelle - I know they lost a few as well.
“We probably played differently to how we’ve been playing lately, which is not ideal, but they managed it better and we won the last quarter.
“Yeah, we’re disappointed and we don’t think we took a step back in the sense everything we’ve done in the last five weeks is worth nothing, it’s just we played a really good side and we got touched up in the first half.”
A highlight of the match was the performance of Naitanui Academy product Tyrell Dewar on debut, with the 20-year-old looking comfortable at the level.
Dewar booted a long goal in the second quarter and was lively in an attack starved of supply.
“He kicked a goal, he was probably involved in four score chains, he could’ve kicked two and with Petch going down and Brocky (Tyler Brockman) being unavailable, he’ll play next week,” Simpson said.
