WEST COAST is set to be without several keys stars after sustaining a horror toll in Sunday’s Derby loss to Fremantle including long-term setbacks to Jeremy McGovern (hamstring) and Jamie Cripps (ankle).

In addition to McGovern and Cripps, Luke Shuey, (hamstring), Alex Witherden (concussion), Campbell Chesser (knee) and Liam Ryan were all struck down against the Dockers to leave the club severely undermanned.

Eagles coach Adam Simpson confirmed the club is preparing to be without “six or seven players” for this week’s clash against Melbourne.

“Liam (Ryan) went back on at stages and was pretty brave ... he didn’t do anymore damage, we don’t know what (the injury is), it could be five things wrong with Liam,” Simpson told reporters post-match.

“Cripps is in hospital with a broken ankle. McGovern’s looks pretty serious. I’m not sure on Shuey at the moment.

“Witherden is in concussion protocol I think, there’s some question marks on that, but he didn’t go back on.

“There’s a couple of other boys I won’t talk about, you’ll probably read about it in a couple of days.”

According to Channel 7’s Ryan Daniels, McGovern may have damaged his tendon, which would spell at least three months on the sidelines, while Shuey’s hamstring issue is only considered minor.

Daniels also revealed Cripps is expected to miss “significant time” and that Ryan’s setback is knee related.

Simpson also said Elliot Yeo was a “chance” to return from a calf issue that’s sidelined him for the first three rounds, and noted Elijah Hewett could a call up into the 22 after being the sub in his first two AFL games.

Earlier on Sunday, GEELONG was dealt another injury blow to its backline after key defender Sam De Koning was subbed off following a head knock with Gold Coast’s Nick Holman.

Speaking post-match, Cats coach Chris Scott wasn’t able to provide a concrete update on De Koning’s status.

“Fortunately — and no one should read too much into this, because they’re all a little bit different. But I did get the chance to speak to him and he said: ‘I’m fine’,” Scott told reporters.

“I shouldn’t go into too much detail because it’s not my area of expertise, but there are some situations where the protocols and tests they put themselves through are a hard failure.

“(But) he came together pretty quickly, not good enough to keep playing.

“He’s symptomatic of a bit that’s happening with us at the moment, he’s having a bit of bad luck, he’s just been in the wrong spot quite a few times over the last few weeks.

“Like us collectively, we’ll look after him and make sure we bounce back and he’ll bounce back, too.”

The SUNS were hit with their own fresh injury setback to Sam Flanders, who was subbed out in the third quarter despite attempting to play through a knee problem sustained in the second term.

Flanders will undergo scans on Monday, with the club set to provide an update on the midfielder/forward in the coming days.

Elsewhere, COLLINGWOOD will go into its Round 4 meeting with Brisbane at the Gabba on Thursday night without its two first-choice ruckmen after the club confirmed Darcy Cameron would miss six to eight weeks with an MCL injury, joining Mason Cox (haematoma) as well as Aiden Begg (back) on the sidelines.

Magpies coach Craig McRae conceded to reporters on Monday he’d have to get creative to fill the void, with 19-year old rookie Oscar Steeene the last healthy ruck on the list but seemingly not ready to make his senior debut.

It means Collingwood will ponder how to best utilise the likes of Ash Johnson, Dan McStay and potentially Billy Frampton when it comes up against Oscar McInerney on Thursday night.

“We‘re not going to say one person, we’re just going to have to carry the load,” McRae said.

“I like being creative so we‘ll get to match committee and have a look at some options.

“We don‘t have another key defender to come in and play that role if (Frampton) goes into the ruck, so that’s why we might have to be a bit creative.”

CARLTON small forward Matt Owies is in doubt to face North Melbourne on Good Friday due to a hamstring issue.

Owies was subbed out of the Blues’ win over GWS in the second quarter, with Blues coach Michael Voss revealing post-match the extent of the setback was still to be determined.

“Matty has got a tight hamstring, to what scale, I don’t know. We think it’s minor,” Voss told reporters.

“We’ll follow due process and get that looked at on Monday.”