West Coast head coach Adam Simpson was left counting the cost from Friday night's derby hitout with Fremantle, an encounter that left his side battered on both the scoreboard and in the medical room.
While only a practice match, the Eagles' 97-point loss to their geographic rivals will not have impressed the premiership steward, nor will the fact that a further three players have been added to an already sizable injury list.
Prior to the cessation of the four-quarter contest played out on the surface of the club's Lathlain headquarters, premiership heroes Elliot Yeo and Dom Sheed limped from the oval with reported ankle injuries.
These losses were compounded by the fact that recent draftee Campbell Chesser was also left icing his lower leg following a marking effort gone wrong during the first term of the twilight encounter.
In the aftermath of the disastrous outing, Simpson referred to his side's efforts as "disappointing" in a holistic sense, the 46-year-old was also willing to shed light on the trifecta of almost identical ailments.
"They don't look great [and] they'll all need scans," Simpson said of Yeo, Sheed and Chesser's ankles.
"Unfortunately, [in] the first 10 minutes, we lose a couple and then Yeo as well. So, yeah, we're having a bad run at the moment.
"I really don't know the details. I know it's ankle [or] lower leg. I think all three boys are pretty similar."
The ninth-year coach's emanating frustration is more than warranted given last night's injuries come hot on the tail of those suffered by Tom Cole (ankle), Jamie Cripps (pectoral) and Oscar Allen (foot).
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Although each of Friday's injuries now bring the number of those at the club nursing ankles to four, Simpson was unwilling to claim there was anything more sinister than coincidence at play.
"We've been training on this ground [Mineral Resources Park] for three or four months and to get three [injuries] in a quarter and a half, it's hard to put your finger on it," he offered.
"The ground's Clegg readings are really good and we water it well, so I don't think we can blame the ground. I don't think we can blame anyone. I think it's just unfortunate luck at the moment."
These varied hits have also been compounded by Jack Darling's unwavering stance against obtaining any form of COVID-19 vaccination.
When pressed as to whether these body blows would leave West Coast behind the eight-ball when it came to selection for Round 1, Simpson was able to laugh when offering a response.
"We'll be alright. We'll get a team. We'll be okay," he said through a chuckle.
"It hasn't happened to us for a long time, the amount of injuries that we've had. But we're not going to live off the fact that we're missing some players."
SEE ALSO: Five Burning Questions Ahead of Round 1 - West Coast Eagles
Simpson's headaches regarding forward partners for Josh Kennedy will have been eased somewhat by former Docker Hugh Dixon's efforts in gold and blue.
The Tasmanian's two goals and routine ability to impact contests saw him lauded as "probably our best player".
With this latest run at the level under his belt, the 22-year-old now appears a clubhouse leader to land a place on West Coast's list during the Supplemental Selection Period [SSP].
Will the Eagles use one of their final list spots on Hugh Dixon?
This is a fantastic snap from the former Docker!
(via: @kayosports) pic.twitter.com/rXfkfH4FTr
— AFL (@AFL) February 25, 2022
With Western Australia's iron curtain still closed to visitors from the Eastern and Southern seaboards, the Eagles and Dockers will be forced to, once again, face off against one another in their sole AAMI Community Series clash next weekend.
And while left rueing and musing Friday's fallout, Simpson will hold hopes that the final dagger with his side's name on it has already been sent.
West Coast and Fremantle will meet at Fremantle Oval on Sunday, March 6 at 4:10pm local time ahead of their respective Round 1 dates with Gold Coast and Adelaide on March 20.
