West Coast injury and COVID crisis sees WAFL’s return to the WACA postponed

West Coast are set to name upon WAFL gamers and their conflict towards East Fremantle on the WACA Floor on Saturday has been postponed after COVID and accidents ravashed the membership once more.

It’s understood the Eagles do not need sufficient gamers to fill a aspect plus emergencies for Saturday’s conflict towards Brisbane, with coach Adam Simpson saying they have been set to name on WAFL gamers off their contingency record for the second time this season.

Additionally they had only one AFL-listed participant accessible and variety of accidents to their WAFL gamers which left them unable to discipline a group of twenty-two for his or her fixtured WAFL conflict towards East Fremantle on the WACA floor on Saturday from 2.30pm, the primary time a sport has been held on the floor since 1994.

This has been postponed although beneath the WA Soccer Fee guidelines, which say the Eagles and Peel Thunder are required to discipline a minimal of three AFL-listed gamers to play except in any other case agreed upon.

The choice got here after Simpson flagged the potential for the sport being postponed earlier within the day, with the Eagles set to be with out as much as 21 gamers.

“I don’t suppose there can be a WAFL sport,” Simpson advised SEN.

“We gained’t have a group to play. We’re going to have to attract upon our record of WAFL gamers to not simply to be emergencies, however I believe we’ll have a minimum of one which performs. He doesn’t comprehend it but and I don’t know who it’s, so don’t ask.

“And probably one other one who could also be a sub.”

The Eagles’ record of unavailable gamers elevated this week, with defenders Alex Witherden and Jackson Nelson (well being and security protocols) in addition to ahead Willie Rioli (hamstring) and midfielder Xavier O’Neill (knee) dominated out after the 109-point loss to Richmond.

Defender Tom Barrass (hamstring) and Brady Hough (again) have been additionally unsure, whereas Luke Strnadica has been sick this week and Hugh Dixon was mysteriously absent from coaching on Monday, earlier than returning on Wednesday.

Tom Barrass is prone to return. Credit score: Sarah Reed/AFL Images

Small ahead Zac Langdon additionally injured his foot in Saturday’s WAFL loss to Peel Thunder, whereas captain Luke Shuey is out with soreness in his troublesome hamstring and quite a lot of others are understood to but to be revealed.

The postponed WAFL sport can both be performed in subsequent weekend’s State Sport bye or throughout one other bye earlier than finals.

WAFC’s WAFL and expertise government supervisor Scott Baker mentioned they felt for East Fremantle after the historic sport was placed on the backburner.

“It’s clearly disappointing for the competitors, however we put these guidelines in place at first of the yr as a result of it was probably inevitable,” he mentioned.

“It’s simply unlucky that it’s taking place with East Fremantle meant to be returning to the WACA Floor this weekend.

“However with the scenario of the Eagles’ AFL and WAFL lists, there was no different possibility however to postpone the sport.”

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