West Coast coach Adam Simpson has lauded the “resilience” of his gamers after a battle of attrition that left the crew with none rotations in a brutal western derby defeat at Optus Stadium.
Despite shedding 5 gamers, with one other one or two additionally taking part in underneath duress, Simpson hailed the crew’s capability to outscore the Dockers and beat them on the contest earlier than they had been overrun within the final time period to lose by 41 factors.
“The third quarter was one of the better quarters we’ve played in my time here,” Simpson stated.
“We didn’t win, so we are not high-fiving each other, but there is something deeper about today than winning.
“We will use that as best we can.
“We will lick our wounds, some of our boys will be out for long periods of time. That’s unfortunate and sad but it’s round three, so we have to keep moving forward.”
Captain Luke Shuey and vice-captain Jeremy McGovern each injured their hamstrings within the second quarter whereas defender Alex Witherden was concussed simply earlier than half-time.
Forward Jamie Cripps was carried off and despatched to hospital after breaking his left ankle halfway via the third time period after he received it caught underneath Fremantle captain Alex Pearce in the best ahead pocket.
Simpson described McGovern’s hamstring as “pretty serious”, whereas he was not sure in regards to the extent of Shuey’s harm.
Forward Liam Ryan injured his left leg and by some means averted a concussion after slamming into the turf in an unsightly scene as he tried to take a spectacular mark 5 minutes earlier than three-quarter time.
Ryan returned to the sector however had no affect as he limped across the ahead line earlier than ending the sport on the bench.
Simpson wasn’t positive what was flawed with Ryan. “It could be five things,” he stated.
He was assured Oscar Allen had averted any harm after he clutched at his knee within the third quarter.
And he signalled Elliot Yeo could possibly be able to resume in spherical 4.
The carnage provides to every week of harm woes with famous person ruckman Nic Naitanui out till no less than the center of the season with Achilles soreness.
Simpson stated there have been different accidents, however he wouldn’t elaborate.
“We will have to wait because they were out there. There was no choice. I think I said to them at three quarter time that in juniors you don’t want to come off, well that is happening this quarter,” Simpson stated.
“Liam went back on at stages and was pretty brave.”
Third-gamer Campbell Chesser was checked out within the second time period and had his left knee knee strapped earlier than returning to the sector and working out simply his third profession sport.
The Eagles’ high decide within the 2021 draft, Chesser missed all of final yr with an ankle harm he sustained towards Fremantle in a pre-season sport.
Simpson stated one other 14 Eagles performed for West Coast’s WAFL crew on Saturday, together with Harry Edwards, who may are available as a key defender to interchange McGovern, Jai Culley, Xavier O’Neill, Josh Rotham and Greg Clark.
Asked about Yeo’s probabilities, Simpson stated: “I hope they are good. He is a chance of playing. We’ll assess that during the week.”
Simpson stated whereas they misplaced on the scoreboard, they might take coronary heart from different statistical victories.
“In the end we got overwhelmed and they were a better side and we tip our hat to Fremantle,” Simpson stated.
“Internally the numbers – contested possessions, groundballs, clearances, we went down by three or four but the hitouts were (69 to 16). We are working really hard around our method at the contest and transition.
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“We will take some real positives … we are glass half-full on today.
“We are not crying poor. Collision and sott tissue (injury) combination. But the resilience piece is really important for us. The last few years have been tough so the message at half time was around that. I thought that we held our own for as long as we could.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
