WEST Coast coach Adam Simpson has backed the club official who was involved in a scuffle with cameramen filming injured star Nic Naitanui.

The incident took place at Perth Airport when Naitanui returned to Western Australia after tearing the ACL in his right knee in the 35-point win over Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday.

Scans revealed on Monday the 28-year-old will need to have his knee reconstructed after he had the same procedure on his left knee in 2016.

Club integrity services manager Peter Staples physically confronted two cameraman who were obtaining vision of the 28-year-old leaving the airport through a side door.

Speaking on SEN on Tuesday morning, Simpson said he understood why Staples had acted as he did.

"I'll back in Peter Staples before anyone else. I'm comfortable," Simpson said.

"It's one of those ones where you put it all into context after we sat at the airport for six hours all up, by the time we landed in Perth it was 12am," Simpson said.

"We exited through a loading bay area, so not in the public eye, and the cameras were there,  and that's their job.

"They were asked to leave before they started filming and they didn't.

"Peter Staples has been so good for Nic, he's almost full-time with Nic because he's so giving.

"The one time we wanted some privacy we unfortunately couldn't get it, but that's the job."

Naitanui was only 15 games into his comeback from an ACL tear in his left knee suffered against Hawthorn in round 22, 2016.

The ruck load will now fall to restricted free agent Scott Lycett, whose importance to West Coast's flag ambitions has increased significantly.

The Eagles face the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium on Sunday.