West Coast will be without Adam Simpson for Saturday night's clash with Brisbane after the Eagles' senior coach tested positive to COVID.
The Eagles currently have just the 22 AFL listed players available for selection this weekend, having seen their squad severely hindered by positive cases in recent days.
The latest player ruled out of the match is Round 7 debutant Greg Clark, who joins the list of eight players and staff under AFL health and safety protocols.
West Coast are set to call on several top-up players, while assistant Matthew Knights will take on senior coaching duties against the Lions.
โAs it stands we have 22 available AFL-listed players with the remainder either injured or in AFL Health and Safety Protocols,โ Eagles Football Manager Gavin Bell said in a club statement.
โWith Adam also being unable to coach this weekend, it is clearly unprecedented times.
โWe have been working hard with the players on COVID Contingency List and it is likely several of them will be a part of the travelling party.
โOur club would again like to thank and acknowledge the understanding of the WAFL competition and the clubs whose players will help us take the field against the Lions. The WAFL clubs and players have been remarkably supportive through this challenging period.
โWhile our club has hit hard in terms of availability, we will roll up our sleeves and get on with the task of doing our absolute best against one of the competitionโs leading contenders.โ
The AFL has granted an extension on team lodgements for both teams, with squads to be submitted by 5:30pm AEST on Friday.
"The AFL advises it has extended the deadline for team lodgements for the Brisbane Lions and the West Coast Eagles ahead of their Round Eight match to be played at the Gabba on Saturday, May 7," a league statement reads.
"Final teams for both clubs will be released publicly at 3.30pm WST / 5.30pm EST on Friday, May 6.
"The AFL is continuing to work closely with the West Coast Eagles who currently have multiple members of their menโs football program in AFL Health and Safety protocols."
The high case numbers among the Eagles' camp has also seen the club's WAFL clash with East Fremantle postponed.
