Adam Simpson has admitted that star duo Elliot Yeo and Dom Sheed are unlikely to be rushed back into the senior side, despite a mounting injury toll at the club.
A humiliating 101-point loss to the Bulldogs on Saturday night was made worse by an injury to Jeremy McGovern, who was substituted out of the game in the second term with a back injury.
The 30-year-old has been the shining light in an otherwise very dim season for the Eagles as a wall in defence, leaving the already undermanned club with another issue to solve down back.
Hit hard by Covid protocols and injuries, the Eagles are desperate to get some star power back on the field. Sheed is yet to play a game this season after suffering an ankle injury during a pre-season match, while Yeo has been missing since Round 6 after suffering through concussion, coronavirus and a calf injury.
Both Yeo and Sheed played in West Coast's WAFL match on Saturday, but Simpson isn't convinced that the duo are ready to come back to senior level.
“Both got through their build, but it won’t be a quick fix either,” Simpson said.
“It’ll take weeks.
“Sheed got injured in the first practice match against Fremantle and Yeo has played one and a half games this year.
“So, we have to get them as fit and match ready as we possibly can.
“There is a bye coming up as well, so they will get to play some WAFL there. We won’t be throwing them straight back in ... not necessarily (after the bye); whenever they are ready.
“For two years, probably, we’ve just tried to get them available and it’s hard to come in and be at your best.
“We had 24 or 25 to pick from today. We need to get them match-hardened and ideally that is through the WAFL.
“Some of the guys who are playing need football to get back to their best.”
The Eagles will next head to Adelaide to face the Crows on Saturday afternoon, with their bye scheduled in for Round 13.
The under-fire have not won a game since their only victory over Collingwood in Round 4.
