West Coast have received a fresh blow with forward Josh Kennedy set for a stint on the sidelines with a leg injury.
Kennedy will miss one to three weeks after a hairline fracture was discovered near his right knee.
The 30-year-old pulled up sore from Friday night's loss to Sydney at the SCG after he suffered a knock to the knee late in the game.
According to West Coast general manager of football Craig Vozzo, club medical staff were giving Kennedy every opportunity to prove his fitness for Thursday night's game against Essendon.
MORE: AFL injury list: The injuries ahead of round 14
However, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Eagles coach Adam Simpson confirmed Kennedy will not only miss the Essendon game, but could be out for an additional fortnight, which includes games against Adelaide (A) and GWS (H).
"We were going to try to get (Kennedy) up and give him every chance, but there's just a tiny little hairline fracture in the side of his leg," Simpson said.
"I don't think it's a significant injury, but it's enough to keep him out this week.
"We'll see how long he's out for, but I don't think it's a long-term issue at all.
"We've got to get on with life without JK or Jack Darling."
“JK won’t play this week. They’ve found a tiny hairline fracture in his lower leg. It will be between one and three weeks.”
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) June 20, 2018
Adam Simpson says Josh Kennedy won’t play in #AFLEaglesDons pic.twitter.com/lGxYHc032e
Kennedy's injury will leave another big hole in West Coast's attack, with Simpson already devoid of the services of Jack Darling, who suffered an ankle injury in the Eagles' round 11 win over St Kilda.
Darling is expected to miss up to a month.
The Eagles will now look to veteran Mark LeCras to lead a young forward line against the Bombers.
