West Coast coach Adam Simpson has flagged bringing back Oscar Allen and stationing high-flyer Liam Ryan as the deepest forward if spearhead Josh Kennedy isn’t available to face Essendon on Tuesday night at the Gabba.
The Eagles have no time to dwell on a 27-point loss to Richmond, with just four days break to recover before their next encounter.
Kennedy will be monitored over the coming days after copping Tigers defender Noah Balta’s knee to his head in the first term on Thursday night, ending the dual Coleman medallist’s night early.
Emerging forward-ruck Allen missed the loss due to a sore glute off a four-day break and travel, opening the door for Bailey Williams to debut.
“He probably would have come up Oscar, he was just a bit sore and with the four days and travel we didn’t want to push him to the line, so he’ll be available next week,” Simpson said post-match.
“The depth of our list has been challenged throughout the year at stages. We’ve had the opportunity to blood some young players through.
“They got a really good experience tonight, they’ll learn from it and we’ll have to manage our list the next couple of weeks just like every other club.”
Ryan stood tall in Kennedy’s absence with three majors as West Coast’s most dangerous forward alongside Jack Darling (three).
“We might have to (play Ryan in the goalsquare). We’ll see how Josh pulls up. But it’s good to have that option that he can go deep and he knows how to play that role,” Simpson said.
“He looked dangerous all night, I thought, Liam.
“He’s developed into an elite AFL player in the last two or three years and it’s through his fitness.
“It’s something we didn’t know we had when we recruited him, and he’s developed a really good engine, so he gets up and back with his speed really well.
“But he has kicked lots of goals from deep forward before as well, so he’s definitely an asset for us.”
Simpson refused to blame a four-day break off travel for the loss, saying his players didn’t look tired as the match wore on.
However, the senior coach lamented several free-kicks given away inside defensive 50, and the accurate Tigers took their opportunities in the 14.4 (88) to 9.7 (61) triumph.
West Coast was within striking distance most of the night and trailed by only 14 points at the final change, but Richmond dominated the early going of the last quarter and held the Eagles at bay.
“Just not good enough. I thought we had a swing,” Simpson said.
“We played a really good side in Richmond. They pressured us really well and made the most of their opportunities.
“There was probably a goal different every quarter, but I thought the endeavour and spirit was there with our players.
“We probably didn’t manage to stop their style of play as much as they stopped ours.”
