AFL 2022: Covid to keep winless West Coast below strength for the next month

Winless and staring at a long list of Covid omissions West Coast doesn’t expect the pain to end soon.

There’s been little joy for West Coast players so far this season. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

West Coast is at least three weeks away from having anywhere near its best team on the park amid a Covid crisis that has added to a 0-3 start to the season.

Regardless of what the Eagles’ win-loss record will be at that stage, however, Eagles coach Adam Simpson insists his side will still be having a crack.

Getting to that point still depends, of course, on no one else getting Covid-19 or being deemed a close contact and no one else getting injured.

West Coast has already used 39 players through the opening three rounds, and some of them were from their Covid top-up list. Only six Eagles have played in all three games to start the season.

But Simpson knows getting his stars back on the ground is only half the battle.

Getting them match fit and playing together, like they would after a proper pre-season, in time to still be in contention for the finals is the other half.

Despite being 0-3 after the 55-point loss to Fremantle, Simpson still holds hopes that the Eagles can achieve something in 2022.

“We went through this last year; we had some significant injuries that were long term,” he said.

“They came back, I think it was the Bulldogs game. On paper, we looked great, then there was no go on them when they came back.

It’s been a tough start to the year for Adam Simpson and Josh Kennedy. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“We have to work hard not only to get them back but to get them fit and match hardened. It‘s hard to do at this time of year, but we have to find a way.

“It‘s the start of the season; there are a lot of stats about 0-3 and whatever percentage you are of not making finals, but you never know. We’re up for the fight.

“We have some very good players on our list that we‘ll get back and we’ll have a swing.”

The Eagles were forced to make 13 changes ahead of the round 3 clash with Fremantle. They made more than that before they lost to North Melbourne in round 2.

Missing from Sunday’s game was Oscar Allen, Tom Barrass, Tom Cole, Jamie Cripps, Liam Duggan, Tim Kelly, Willie Rioli, Dom Sheed, Luke Shuey and Elliot Yeo.

West Coast players after the loss to Fremantle. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Some of them should return for Saturday’s clash with Collingwood at Marvel Stadium.

Simson said at the top of that list was Barrass, Shuey, Duggan, Rioli and Bailey Williams.

“Then you have Yeo, Cripps, who else is there, Oscar Allen. In the next three weeks, if we don‘t get any injuries, we’ll look like a side that what we planned at the start of the season,” he said.

“But we‘ll have 18 of our best 22, that’s what we’re aiming for.

“Then some of the guys who stood up in the past few weeks will keep their place.

“We have embarked on a new phase in the way we want to play and haven‘t been able to execute that often.

“I’m still optimistic, still glass half full.

“We might not win, but within the four walls, we are connected. And that is my priority at the moment.”

Originally published as AFL 2022: Covid to keep winless West Coast below strength for the next month