WEST Coast is set to be without captain Luke Shuey until the finals after the star midfielder strained his hamstring in Tuesday night's win over Essendon.
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But coach Adam Simpson backed the call for Shuey to return to the field in the final term after first feeling the injury in the third quarter.
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And the Bombers have serious injury worries of their own after midfielder Andrew McGrath suffered a suspected ankle syndesmosis injury late in the second term.
Shuey, the 2018 Norm Smith Medallist required treatment at three-quarter time and appeared to test the injury during the final break before heading back onto the field in the last quarter.
Simpson said Shuey went back onto the field in the last quarter because the game was up for grabs and knew he was set for a stint on the sidelines.
"Regardless [of coming back on] it was going to be a couple of weeks," Simpson said after his side's 15-point win.
"At three-quarter time he started on the bench and he came out and ran around but he didn't do any more damage, I don't think, so he's probably going to miss a couple of weeks.
"That probably takes us to the end of the season. That's the way it is."
It is another body blow for the Eagles, who are likely to be without Elliot Yeo until the finals as well as he battles a groin injury.
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But they could recall spearhead Josh Kennedy (concussion) for Sunday's clash with the Western Bulldogs while Jake Waterman will be close as he overcomes with a hand injury.
"We've got a few injuries like everyone. It was our third game in nine days and we looked tired but Essendon looked tired too, they had a soldier down as well so it's a battle of the fittest at the moment," Simpson said.
Meanwhile, the Bombers could be without McGrath, the No.1 pick in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft, for the rest of the season after his ankle injury just before half-time.
The emerging midfield star twisted his lower leg awkwardly and ended the game on crutches and with his left ankle being iced.
McGrath has been an impressive improver this season but is set to miss the rest of the Bombers' season as their bid for a finals spot hanging by a thread. The Bombers have won two of their past nine games.
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"It looks bad. We won't guess at the diagnosis, but it's a high ankle sprain which often end up being those syndesmosis injuries," coach John Worsfold said.