WEST Coast premiership forward Jamie Cripps has left the Eagles' high performance centre in Queensland for the imminent arrival of his first child.
Cripps, who featured in the team's 27-point loss to Richmond on Thursday night, returned to Perth on Friday to be with his partner, Olivia, to support her and be present for the impending birth.
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06:11
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06:29
Simpson: 'Losing, nothing to do with Queensland'
Adam Simpson refuses to attribute the shift from home as a factor in tonight's loss, stating they were simply 'beaten by the better side'
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06:54
Dimma: 'Just kick it Jack'
Damien Hardwick shared his thoughts on Jack Riewoldt's uncanny decision to snap on his left from a 15m set shot
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00:57
Jack's choice of kick too fancy for Dimma's liking
Jack Riewoldt surprisingly attempts to go with a left-foot snap from an easy position and ends up missing
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00:45
Noah lets rip from outside the arc
Tiger utility Noah Balta gets mobbed by teammates after unleashing an absolute pearler from around 60m out
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00:34
Shai step and snap just pure genius
Improving Tiger Shai Bolton showcases some exquisite skill to notch this stunning goal
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00:54
Dusty bender sends everyone berserk
Dustin Martin conjures an outrageous banana on the boundary to light up the stadium
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00:32
Nic Nat pushes traffic aside and drives through
Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui does brilliantly to conjure space in the forward line and complete a clever snap
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00:34
Kennedy off after nasty knee connects
Josh Kennedy cops a painful blow to his head after Noah Balta catches him in a marking contest
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00:30
When the skipper forgets how to kick the footy
West Coast captain Luke Shuey has one of the stranger moments of his footy career by completely squandering a standard kick
"We knew this was a likely scenario and as a club we are fully committed to the 'family first' mantra that is an important value at our club," general manager of football Craig Vozzo said.
"We will offer every possible support to Jamie and Olivia as they approach the most exciting event of their lives.
"We are not sure when Jamie will return, we will work through those logistics at the appropriate time."
While Cripps returned home, another premiership star is preparing to join his teammates at Sanctuary Cove in south-east Queensland.
Elliot Yeo remained in Perth because of a bad dose of influenza when the rest of the travelling flew east on Tuesday morning.
He was quarantined in both his own interests and those of his teammates, but has been given medical clearance and will arrive in the Sunshine State on Sunday.
