WEST Coast defender Mitch Brown will be sidelined for four to six weeks with bone bruising in his knee but does not require surgery.
Brown fell awkwardly on a right leg in a marking contest during the third term of the Eagles' seven-point loss to Fremantle on Saturday.
He was stretchered off in obvious pain and there were fears he had ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament.
However scans have revealed no ligament damage. He has severe bone bruising and also damaged his ankle in the fall but neither issue will require surgery.
Brown ruptured the ACL in his left leg in 2008 that saw him miss an entire season.
"Couldn't be happier," Eagles coach Adam Simpson told 6PR on Monday.
"It could be as little as four weeks. For what we saw, it was heart in mouth type stuff when it happened.
"To get that good news, everyone has just lifted a gear today."
While the result was better than first feared for West Coast, Brown's absence will test the depths of the Eagles' defence following Darren Glass' retirement earlier this year.
The Eagles face the most fearsome power forward duo in the competition this week as Lance Franklin, Kurt Tippett and the Sydney Swans travel to Patersons Stadium on Sunday.
Youngster Jeremy McGovern said he will put his hand up to play on Tippett if required despite starring up forward over the past month.
"I'll go man up on Tippett for sure," McGovern said.
"Obviously it would be a bit scary but, no, it would be good for me to man up on him and hopefully get the job done."
The Eagles would be robbing themselves of a key target up forward if they swing McGovern into defence.
The 22-year-old, who signed a two-year contract extension this week, has kicked 10 goals in his past four games and has taken 32 marks.
West Coast coach Adam Simpson is developing McGovern to be a swingman for the Eagles and McGovern said he his happy to fill any role for the team.
"I'm happy to play at either end," McGovern said.
"I'll do whatever is best for the team. If Simmo wants me up in the backline I'll put my hand up and play down there.
"I like being a versatile player. I like being thrown around a bit, mixing things up. Obviously whatever is best for the team, I'll put my hand up and play back if I need to."
