The injury toll at West Coast has continued to mount this week, with Supplemental Selection Period signing Tom Joyce understood to be battling an ankle injury just days after joining Adam Simpson's side.
Joyce was one of four new recruits added to the Eagles' list through the SSP, joining former Fremantle duo Hugh Dixon and Luke Strnadica as well as ex-Tiger Patrick Naish.
Joyce - along with Naish and Strnadica - was officially signed by West Coast on Wednesday, with the former Brisbane midfielder initially returning to his home state of Western Australia to link up with East Fremantle.
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The 21-year-old was handed a training opportunity with the Eagles for their pre-season, with Joyce impressing and eventually earning an AFL lifeline after being delisted by Brisbane at the cessation of last season, where he failed to make a senior appearance under Chris Fagan.
The Melville product was hoping life as an Eagle would bear fruit in potentially making his AFL debut, however a reported ankle injury is set to delay any dream Joyce had in featuring for Simpson early into the 2022 season.
According to 10 News Perth's Steve Allen, Joyce sustained an ankle injury at training and has since required a moon boot to aid the ailment.
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Huge blow for Tom Joyce who was a chance for round one Eagles debut. Has suffered an ankle injury and is in a moon boot 🦅
— Steve Allen (@ScubaStv) March 11, 2022
It is understood that Joyce suffered the setback just two days after signing with the Eagles, with the club awaiting scans on what could be a long-term layoff for the ex-Lion.
The injury would further compound West Coast's woes ahead of their Round 1 bout with Gold Coast next Sunday, with an extensive list of stars currently sidelined or in a race against the clock to be fit for their season opener.
Luke Shuey (hamstring), Liam Duggan (knee), Oscar Allen (foot), Tim Kelly (health and safety protocols), Dom Sheed (ankle), Elliot Yeo (calf), Tom Cole (ankle), Jamie Cripps (pectoral), Sam Petrevski-Seton (knee), Campbell Chesser (ankle) and Greg Clark (shoulder) are among those currently hampered at Lathlain Park, with a majority of those listed in doubt for Round 1.
Both Cole and Chesser were moved to the Eagles' long-term injury list, opening up list spots for the likes of Joyce, Strnadica and Naish to join the club.
The Eagles' finals hopes were buoyed this week by Jack Darling's return to the club, however the premiership sharpshooter is no guarantee to line up in the early rounds of the AFL season after missing a majority of pre-season due to his vaccine preferences.
West Coast will host the Suns at Optus Stadium on Sunday, March 20 to begin their new campaign.
