WEST Coast coach Adam Simpson believes Shannon Hurn's high bump that sent Western Bulldogs midfielder Mitch Honeychurch to hospital was an "unfortunate accident" and doubts the Eagles skipper will have a case to answer.

The Match Review Officer is certain to look at the third quarter hit, which forced the game to be stopped for several minutes while Honeychurch was taken from the ground on a stretcher and then away in an ambulance for scans on his neck.

Hurn bumped Honeychurch moments after the ball rolled away and immediately put his hands up after making contact with the Dogs onballer.

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"I did see it. I didn't think much of it. Hopefully he's OK. 'Unfortunate accident' are the words that come to my mind," Simpson said.

"I haven't seen it in detail and broken down frame-by-frame, but it felt like he almost stopped and apologised before it happened.

"It looked like an unfortunate accident, so I'm assuming not much will happen from it."

Losing Hurn, the favourite to be All Australian skipper, would be a massive blow for the second-placed Eagles ahead of a tricky trip to Hobart to face North Melbourne.

Simpson was thrilled the Eagles locked away a finals berth with their 13th win, despite acknowledging the scrappy nature of the 54-point triumph on Sunday.

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Other results went West Coast's way in round 18 and the Eagles' grip on a shock top-two spot has tightened.

They are now two wins inside the top-four and could be two games clear in second if they can beat North Melbourne and Richmond knocks over Collingwood next round.

"There's going to be so much chop and change with the ladder position, you really try hard not to look at it and look at other games and barrack for other teams," Simpson said.

"But if we keep winning, we'll be OK."

Simpson thought ruck duo Scott Lycett and Nathan Vardy held their own in Nic Naitanui's (knee) absence, while he praised the defensive workrate of half-back Lewis Jetta (28 disposals) and small forward Jamie Cripps (three goals).

After a controversial week, with integrity officer Peter Staples clashing with cameramen at Perth Airport following Naitanui's knee injury last Sunday night, Simpson again defended the official while acknowledging the club mishandled the incident.

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Eagles CEO Trevor Nisbett offered an unreserved apology for the ugly scene on Saturday.

"I suppose the overall incident we're all disappointed with and we could've handled it better," Simpson said.

"I think we've made enough in terms of apologies now, acknowledge we did the wrong thing, but my message at the end (of a radio interview on SEN) was I back in Peter Staples and that doesn't change."