West Coast could lose Adam Selwood for several weeks after the tagging midfielder was hospitalised on Saturday night with a throat injury, during the club's record loss to Geelong.
On the back of the 135-point thrashing - the Eagles' greatest ever home defeat - John Worsfold confirmed that Selwood was sent to hospital at half-time following an off-the-ball incident with Cats forward Steve Johnson during the first quarter, although the Eagles coach could not say how severe the injury was.
To cap off one of the club's darkest days - it was also West Coast's second-heaviest loss in its history, Worsfold told his post-match media conference that rugged defender Beau Waters would also miss the rest of the season after dislocating his elbow playing for Claremont in the WAFL.
Selwood's injury, however, revived memories of Sydney ruckman Gareth John almost being killed after having his larynx crushed in a collision with Essendon's Simon Madden in 1991.
In Selwood's case, though, the injury did not appear as severe as John's, and the 24-year-old continued playing until breathing problems forced medical staff to send him away just before the main break.
But, despite the injuries and a dismal performance by one of the most experienced line-ups West Coast has fielded this season, a defiantly positive Worsfold declared the setbacks will only make the Eagles stronger.
"I played in a game where we kicked one goal in 1989 and two years later we played in a grand final and three years later we won a premiership," said Worsfold, referring to West Coast's 142-point loss to Essendon in 1989 - the club's biggest-ever defeat.
"So my experience tells me that teams that have got good character can turn things around very quickly, learn from them and become top sides very quickly so that's my focus," he said.
"We all know what the game involves and the great thing is, that's why winning premierships is so special. If you didn't go through these things then you'd win a premiership and you wouldn't have a celebration, you'd mope (at) home and (say) 'what was that? There was no difference'."
"So the toughness of this elite competition is what we are all excited about being involved in and you get casualties and you go through bad days and those who want to sulk, stay in bad days and those who want to win premierships eventually win premierships and I know which one we are," Worsfold said.
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