West Coast coach Adam Simpson has detailed the reasons behind Brady Hough’s dramatic late withdrawal before the side’s 101-point loss to Fremantle, saying the young Eagle risked breaching anti-doping rules if he had played.
The first bounce of Saturday night’s western derby was delayed by two minutes after the Eagles frantically withdrew Hough just seconds before the scheduled start of the match.
Hough, who has played 29 games for West Coast since his debut last year, had been hit by the flu earlier in the week.
But it was the fact he had taken too many puffs of Ventolin on game day that convinced West Coast’s doctors to withdraw him from the match.
Ventolin is commonly used by asthma sufferers to help relax muscles in the airways and increase air flow to the lungs.
“I don’t know if six is the limit of puffs you can have… he had more than six today,” Simpson said.
“So I think he merely mentioned it or the docs just quizzed him on it a little bit in the warm-up out on the ground, and to the docs’ credit they worked out that if he plays he might be over the legal game-day limit.
“The docs did a great job, because running the risk of playing when he potentially could be over, there’s pretty big ramifications.”
Simpson said it was an innocent mistake by Hough, who was unaware of the rules.
“It’s almost like he’d be fine to play tomorrow. But on game day, there’s rules and he was unaware, so we just couldn’t take a risk,” Simpson said.
“He made a mistake. It wasn’t deliberate. There’s nothing sinister.
“He was crook all week, and he took too many puffs of his Ventolin. So it just threw us out of whack a little bit. No excuse for the game.”
West Coast conceded 17 consecutive goals on the way to suffering their biggest ever derby defeat – 20.14 (134) to 4.9 (33).
It came just two weeks after West Coast beat North Melbourne, and a week after pushing Essendon all the way in a one-point loss.
The derby loss represents West Coast’s fifth triple-figure defeat this season.
“You can ask those questions, that’s fine, that’s your job,” Simpson replied when asked if he thought the derby defeat could put his position in doubt.
“I can’t control that. What will be will be. But we definitely took a step back today.”
Eagles forward Oscar Allen appeared to injure his right elbow late against the Dockers.
Allen is also battling a shoulder injury, but Simpson isn’t worried about long-term damage.
“Whatever he’s got, he needs a rest and probably needs a clean-up here and there,” Simpson said.
“But they’re not major, they’re just stingers I suppose that take a few days to recover from, or a few minutes really.”
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
"Truly bizarre" reporting on this. The alternative? Let him take the field and sub him off in the first minute?
okapiman
Roar Rookie
The Eagles have a lot of older players on their list, who are more susceptible to injury. These players have all had significant injuries in the past, and they are more likely to get injured again as they get older. Piling up the minutes. The Eagles have had to play a lot of young players this year, and these players have had to play a lot of minutes. This has put a lot of strain on their bodies, and it seems it has led to some injuries. The Eagles claim to have implemented a harder training regime this year, in an attempt to improve their fitness and performance. Tom Barrass is has already been injured twice this year. He has attributed his injuries to the harder training regime. Sounds like a shamozzle.
Courtney
Roar Rookie
I think people are confusing the performance with the health protocols. Yes the eagles game was not flash But the Essendon drug saga and Willie Rioli don’t leave much leeway. Screw Kane Cornes and the Melbourne media ( tanking ) If he was drug tested maybe he would have crossed limits All clubs do it How about giving the eagles medical staff and the coaching staff a bit of credit for not taking a risk I’m a dockers supporter but if it was my son I would be pretty happy
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
On your way then. Lazy tropes, low thought levels, regurgitation of ex-players' inaccuracies. Name the delusional players. You don't speak for me, or for a lot of Eagles supporters I know.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Do you have some dot points that you'd like to share? Leaders? Last two captains have struggled with injuries. Backline ? Injury management or just count them.?
nics
Roar Rookie
Tilting at windmills? Unlike you I can’t presume to speak for an entire fanbase. I suspect a lot of fans have not found performances acceptable, but also know there aren’t any easy solutions and this has been discussed ad nauseum – sack the coach? Bye bye soft cap and leave some junior coach to carry the can. Sack seniors? Hurn and Schuey have retired and Naitanui is probably out the door. Gaff goes next year along with McGovern. I suspect reasonable people know that a rebuild is under way – our draft crop this year is handy and so will our next one – yes we probably should have started earlier but as the song goes, you cant turn back time. Of course this will require patience and long-term planning, and fortitude, but it is what it is.
okapiman
Roar Rookie
Recent incidents with the West Coast Eagles, including Brady Hough's late withdrawal, highlight larger issues of leadership and accountability within the WCE's management. The Eagles' inconsistent performance and disarray suggest a lack of strong leadership driving strategy and motivation. Moreover, handling situations like Hough's withdrawal indicates a lack of accountability culture. To regain some form and fulfill their potential, the Eagles need to reassess their leadership structure and foster a stronger sense of accountability among their entire structure.
PeteB
Roar Rookie
The Eagles performances over the last two years have been bizarre. Even more so the general acceptance of the club and supporters of where they are at and all the excuses of how they got there. Hey but their AFL history so far has been great, so it’ll all just happen again for them, right ? All good !
PriddisJunior
Roar Rookie
"All members" is a bit much. There's a waiting list for your membership. Stop clicking on Kane Cornes articles. What's so awful about what happened? If he had of played and was punished for it, might be worth crying.
XI
Roar Guru
Huh. I had no idea I was doping all those years I played. You never would have guessed from how bad I was
WCE
Roar Rookie
Simmo, we have all had a complete guts full of all the BS. Take yourself, all the insipid line coaches and all of the wanna be delusional players and get out. This is the straw that has broken the back. That's it, enough, leave before all members cancel there memberships including me.
WCE
Roar Rookie
Blame the young rookie for not knowing the rules. Good deflection again Simmo maybe all the coaching staff should inform 2nd year players of such rules. Fire everyone I reckon WAFL teams will smash us and we are going to get worse next year. How that's even possible is beyond me