WEST Coast is already laying the groundwork for its Tribunal defence of star forward Mark LeCras, who was reported over a high bump to Giant Will Hoskin-Elliott on Sunday.

 

A buoyant Adam Simpson fronted the media after the game and labelled LeCras a "fair player" who had never before been reported.

 

He also said LeCras, who was returning to the field after four weeks on the sidelines with a broken arm, had perhaps chosen to bump instead of tackle on some occasions in an effort to protect his troublesome right arm, which he also broke last year.

 

"I haven't fully seen the incident," Simpson said. "I do know he's a fair player. He's never been reported before and sometimes I think with his arm that he thinks he should bump rather than tackle. So there's some things there. I can see why he did it."

 

Simpson was also asked whether the Tribunal should take into account the problems LeCras had endured with his arm.

 

"Maybe," he said. "It might be our defence. That's just the way it is at the moment with him. It's probably more of an understanding of why he did it. If it's legal or not, we'll find out in the next couple of days."

 

When asked whether coaches and players understood what the rules allowed them to do, Simpson said: "I'm pretty clear, and so are our players".

 

But Simpson wouldn't speculate on how West Coast would cope if LeCras was suspended.

“You just have to try to tackle," Simpson said.

 

"Shepherding is hard to do now, off the ball in particular. If you hit someone in the head then you're in strife, that's the basic feel at the moment."

 

LeCras immediately returned to his brilliant best for West Coast, booting four goals and providing the home side with the perfect foil for key target Josh Kennedy.

 

Simpson said he had been pleased with LeCras' game and that the 27-year-old had provided the Eagles with a spark that had been missing recently.

Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron said Hoskin-Elliott, who received a free kick over the incident, had not suffered any ill effects and had played well. He said he had not seen the LeCras incident.

"I mean, it's obviously been in the news last week and over the weekend because there's a few instances, and it's going to be looked at on Monday," he said.

 

"But it's simple really. If you choose to bump make sure you don't hurt someone."