West Coast’s incredible start to their elimination final against North Melbourne was soured with star defender Beau Waters suffering a suspected serious Achilles injury.
West Coast dominated the first half against the Kangaroos in Perth, kicking seven goals to nil in the first quarter, and slotting the first two goals of the second term.
But the injury to Waters will prove a mood killer for the Eagles, who led 11.8 (74) to 2.8 (20) at halftime and are in the box seat to play Collingwood in Saturday night’s MCG semi-final.
Waters has had an outstanding season in West Coast’s defence with his hardness and raking left boot earning him a spot in the initial All-Australian squad.
It was an innocuous looking incident at the nine-minute mark of the second quarter, but Waters immediately knew something was wrong with his lower leg.
He took himself off over the boundary line and the attending trainers immediately knew the injury was serious as well.
Surprisingly, a stretcher was not called for but Waters was carried to the West Coast change rooms by two trainers where the assessment is expected to reveal an Achilles injury.
Substitute Jacob Brennan, a running defender, was the ideal replacement for Waters with the Eagles well and truly in control of the contest.