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AAP
AAP
Justin Chadwick

Eagles recruit Roux to miss 3-4 weeks with broken hand

It's all smiles at West Coast who beat the Richmond Tigers with new coach Daisy Pearce at the helm. (James Worsfold/AAP PHOTOS)

West Coast coach Daisy Pearce is hopeful of regaining skipper Emma Swanson for next week's clash with Essendon, but recruit Roxy Roux will be sidelined for at least three more weeks with a broken hand.

Swanson missed Friday night's dramatic one-point win over Richmond due to groin soreness.

The Eagles started the match as rank underdogs, but stormed out the gates with a five-goal-to-one first half before watching their lead evaporate.

In a drama-filled ending, Eagles forward Kellie Gibson kicked the match-winner with 43 seconds remaining to ensure Pearce's tenure at West Coast started on a glorious note.

The Eagles will be aiming to make it two wins on the trot when they host Essendon at Mineral Resources Park next Saturday, and Swanson's expected return will give them a massive boost.

"She's a good chance for next week," Pearce said.

West Coast will also regain key defender Sophie McDonald (concussion) next week.

But the news isn't so good for former Dockers spearhead Roux, whose Eagles debut has been put on hold following a training mishap.

"She broke her hand," Pearce said.

"It was really unfortunate - our last main training session of our pre-season, and she did it just smothering a ball. It was just an unusual accident.

"She'll miss about three to four weeks, if not a little bit more."

Midfield star Isabella Lewis will be further assessed after coming off late against Richmond with a leg injury.

Former netball star Verity Simmons, who captained West Coast Fever and also played for the Diamonds, tallied 10 disposals and two clearances in her AFLW debut.

Pearce was proud of the 33-year-old's efforts.

"I thought 'Vez' was really solid," Pearce said.

"She competed well on the wing. It's quite a structural role. 

"And then you face a side like Richmond, who played their wings in a slightly different spot. So it was a whole new round of education for her.

"But she just takes every challenge like the professional she is. 

"I mean, for what she doesn't know about footy or didn't have in terms of a footy skill set, we get someone who's performed and competed at a high level her entire life.

"She's done a lot of work on her kicking and skills, and she made some really composed decisions and executed well."

Pearce also praised Jess Hosking, who kicked two first-half goals against the side that delisted her at the end of last year.

"There were times Richmond had plus-two or plus-three defenders behind the ball, and she just did enough to fight and scrap and get the ball on the ground, which is trademark Hosko really," Pearce said.

"The rest of our group just sort of got in behind her. I thought she really set the tone in that first quarter."

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