Adam Simpson flagged at his media conference on Thursday morning that the Eagles would make as many as five changes to the side that lost by 28 points to the Sydney Swans last Sunday.
With Matt Rosa out for the remainder of the year due to a torn pectoral tendon, and Josh Kennedy suspended, the absence of Wellingham, Cripps, and Sheppard at the airport suggested the coach was true to his word.
Nic Naitanui, Callum Sinclair, Blayne Wilson, Dom Sheed, Ash Smith, and Simon Tunbridge have all flown to Brisbane with the squad on Thursday.
"There will be up to five changes this week," Simpson said on Thursday morning.
"It's a six-day break and we are going to go in with a pretty young side and see what a couple of young guys can do who have been playing at East Perth.
"We are excited with what we might see this week."
Simpson said given the injuries to Rosa, Scott Selwood and Mitch Brown, and the suspension to Kennedy, it was the perfect time to give opportunities to fringe players within the squad.
"It's a really good opportunity to see how we can go with different personnel in there, albeit we haven't got a heap of depth in our midfield at the moment with the injuries we've got," Simpson said.
"But we will try a few different things this week."
Simpson said earlier in the week that West Coast needed to find some midfield depth. The Eagles have been criticized for a lack of size and speed within their midfield group. But Simpson isn't concerned with the physical attributes of his midfield.
"The biggest thing I'm looking for in our midfield, and anyone who plays in our side, is competitive instinct," Simpson said.
"The size, shape and legs is secondary I think, and I just want mids to have a crack and put their head over the ball. I think you can manage, as a player, being a bit shorter or a bit slower if you can win your own ball, especially inside mids.
"The notion that we are too slow or not tall enough and those things, if we are competitors then you can sort of manage. When you don’t compete, it doesn’t matter what size you are, you are going to struggle."
The Eagles have also flown four ruckmen to Brisbane. Simpson said managing the opportunities of Dean Cox, Scott Lycett, Naitanui and Sinclair was a good problem to have.
"They're four quality ruckmen that would get a game at almost every club," Simpson said.
"They're all playing at a reasonable standard at the moment.
"It's a reasonable battle. It's a good problem to have if they're all playing well."
