West Coast are bracing to be without five-time All-Australian Jeremy McGovern due to a groin injury sustained in Sunday's Derby loss to Fremantle.
McGovern was unable to see out the 38-point defeat due to the ailment, which occurred in the third term and moments after the Eagles made their sub change.
Unfortunately for coach Andrew McQualter, the player replaced by tactical sub Elijah Hewett was tall backman Harry Edwards, with the in-game change and McGovern's untimely injury placing West Coast's rearguard on the back foot against Fremantle's tall forwards.
While McQualter was unable to relay the likely severity of McGovern's injury, the Eagles coach said there's concerns over his expected stint in the club's casualty ward.
"I don't know the severity of it, but we had to sub him out straight away, so there's clearly something in it," McQualter said post-game.
"Disappointing to lose him, he's a really important player to us. We'll go and scan it and see where it lands.
"It's funny how the world works. You sub out one key back, the other one gets injured. That's unreal, right?
"We were still trying to win the game at that stage. It was a move we tried to make."
McQualter expressed a level of confidence in the club's depth ranks as the Eagles' WAFL unit continues to impress ahead of its 22025 campaign, with a number of fringe assets now in the mix for senior selection.
Rookie Tom Gross and second-year midfielder Clay Hall could earn a spot to face GWS on Sunday, while Sandy Brock, Jobe Shanahan and Rhett Bazzo may also be considered as defensive reinforcements for McGovern.
Co-captain and key forward Oscar Allen was deployed in defence after McGovern was ruled out of the final quarter of the Derby, with the star tall a chance to continue down back in the coming weeks.
"The last two weeks in the WAFL there's been some really pleasing signs there," McQualter said.
"I've got no doubt there's some players that are ready to play at AFL level. That's exciting. There'll be some guys who get their opportunity this week which is great.
"Potentially (Allen plays down back in McGovern's absence). I spoke to Oscar about that at the very start to pre-season. We knew we were slightly thin with key backs.
"He's played a little bit of key back in his career, so it's an option. We'll just have to see where it goes and with matchups with who we're playing."
The Eagles are hoping forward Jake Waterman is available for Round 4 after back and calf concerns saw him miss last week's loss to Brisbane.
McQualter confirmed Waterman is a strong chance to suit up for the trip to Sydney's west this week, but still needs to prove his fitness.
"There's some chance," the Eagles coach said of the All-Australian's chances of a return.
"He trained quite well on Thursday. He was a chance for this game but didn't quite get there.
"He still has to train and cope with the workload required (before being selected)."
The 0-3 Eagles will face GWS at Engie Stadium on Sunday at 1:10pm (AEDT).
