WEST Coast's injury toll has grown after Xavier Ellis suffered a low-grade calf injury in the first term of the clash with Port Adelaide at Patersons Stadium on Saturday night.
Ellis was substituted out of the match before quarter-time and had ice applied immediately to his right calf.
Eagles coach Adam Simpson says the injury is only low-grade but it was costly to the Eagles.
"It's disappointing to lose someone in the first quarter and someone with the skill and composure of Ellis," Simpson said.
"He would have been handy throughout the night.
"In particular against Port who bat really deep with their run, you want to match them. We thought we could [but] losing Ellis didn't help."
The recruit was playing his fifth game for the Eagles after moving west from Hawthorn in the off-season.
He was plagued by calf injuries in his final years at Hawthorn. Simpson says he knew of the risks involved with Ellis when he recruited him from Hawthorn as a free agent, but does not believe this will be a long-term injury.
"We'll see how he pulls up and what kind of recovery and rehab he needs to do," Simpson said.
"It was a risk to pick up 'X' (Xavier). He knew that, we knew it. It's a low-grade so we've got to manage him the right way.
"He'd be disappointed. But it's not the end of the world. He'll be back pretty soon."
He will join Mark LeCras (broken arm), Shannon Hurn (knee) and Beau Waters (shoulder) on the sidelines for next week's clash with Carlton at Etihad Stadium.
