West Coast will be without half of its leadership group when it takes on Collingwood at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
Co-captain Oscar Allen is sidelined for the remainder of the year with a calf injury, as is fellow forward Jake Waterman (shoulder).
Jeremy McGovern's medical retirement was the latest blow to the Eagles, with the AFL's Concussion Panel ruling him finished after multiple head knocks over his career.
"It was flattening, when you lose someone of Gov's character, it's flattening. We got to send Gov off the right way last week," West Coast coach Andrew McQualter said.
It means recruits Liam Baker and Jack Graham make up the remaining three leadership slots, with Liam Duggan taking full responsibility for the skipper duties.
"That's something we're working through for sure. It's three of our guys who won't play again this year," McQualter said.
"We've got a six-man leadership group, and three are out, so we'll look at some options of whether we formally put some more guys in the leadership group.
"The reality is we expect everyone to be a leader โฆ and what this will provide with only three leaders playing on the weekend, is there'll be space for others to lead.
"I think we're starting to get that from all players, but particularly some of our younger players as well, which has been really pleasing."
Turning to Saturday's task, McQualter is weighing up applying a heavy tag on Collingwood star Nick Daicos, who has been closely followed in recent weeks.
St Kilda put Marcus Windhager to him but to little effect, while Melbourne's Ed Langdon had a much greater impact with his close following.
The Eagles could utilise Brady Hough in that role, who has shown in recent weeks his defensive prowess after being promoted from the backline to the midfield.
"There's no easy answer to it. Even when you tag Nick, he is pretty handy still. So we'll work through that at match committee this afternoon and make some decisions on it," McQualter said.
"We think (Brady) Hough has got the skill set to do it โฆ so if we do go that way, it probably would be Houghy.
"We definitely have some plans during the week if players get away from us, and how we can shut that down.
"How often we'll start with a tag, I'm not sure. We haven't done it too often yet, but it may be something we do."
Defenders Harry Edwards and Tom Cole need to get through the week's training sessions to be made available for selection.
Veteran Elliot Yeo is tipped to return in a month, pending that his recovery from a persistent ankle injury is smooth sailing.
Draftee Jobe Shanahan and Rhett Bazzo continue to press their claims for a spot in the senior side after impressive form in the VFL.
McQualter said if Edwards is unable to face the Pies, the pair will come into selection consideration.
