‘Unprecedented’: West Coast Eagles’ personnel crisis takes a turn for the worse

Just when the West Coast Eagles thought things were as bad as they could get, they lost their coach for this weekend’s game.

The Eagles are at the bottom of the ladder. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The West Coast Eagles barely have enough players to field a team and now the side’s personnel crisis has claimed both senior coach Adam Simpson and captain Luke Shuey.

Simpson is one of eight Eagles staff members or players sidelined through Covid-19 protocols, leaving the club with just 22 uninjured, Covid-negative footballers available for selection in Saturday’s game with Brisbane.

For the second time this season, West Coast will be forced to draw from its Covid contingency list, made up of WAFL players, just to field a team for the clash.

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Former Essendon senior coach Matthew Knights will coach the Eagles in the game at the Gabba that looms as particularly daunting for the depleted Eagles given the Lions’ form.

On Thursday, Knights confirmed that both Shuey and Jack Petruccelle would miss the game with hamstring complaints. The pair will go in for scans to determine the extent of their injuries.

Knights said Shuey’s injury history had given the Eagles reason to be careful when it came to his hamstring.

“With Luke’s history and being such a pivotal and important player for us moving forward for the rest of the year, any type of awareness is enough for us to err on the side of caution,” he said.

“It‘s unfortunate because he’s so up for playing at the moment and leading this club.”

Adam Simpson will stay behind in Perth when the Eagles travel to Brisbane. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Eagles football manager Gavin Bell said the club’s personnel crisis was “unprecedented”.

“As it stands we have 22 available AFL-listed players with the remainder either injured or in AFL health and safety protocols,” Bell said.

“With Adam also being unable to coach this weekend, it is clearly unprecedented times.

“Our 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 … it is likely several of them will be a part of the travelling party.

“While 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 competition’s leading contenders.”

Despite the setbacks, Knights said his side had not given up hope it could upset the Lions.

“Unless you‘re going to win a game of football, it’s pointless getting on the plane,” he said.

“We’re going there to win and play hard.

“Players have got to have that belief as well. That‘s part of the coaches’ role, to instil belief as well as the game style and strategy.”

The Eagles are doing it tough. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The Eagles have endured a horror start to the season on the back of Covid outbreaks and injuries.

The side sits in last place with only one win from seven games – its equal worst start to a season since joining the AFL in 1987.

On top of those subject to Covid protocols, Nic Naitanui, Elliot Yeo, Willie Rioli, Oscar Allen and Dom Sheed are among key players injured.

News that Simpson would miss the clash with Brisbane comes only an hour after Adelaide senior coach Matthew Nicks was ruled out of his side’s game.

Nicks will watch the Crows’ clash with Carlton from Covid-enforced isolation, with assistant Scott Burns assuming senior coaching duties in his absence.

Across the first eight rounds of the season, seven different assistant coaches have temporarily taken the reins at their clubs in response to Covid-19 protocols.