Double injury blow for Eagles

Shannon Hurn on crutches after the Eagles' loss to Hawthorn. Source: Getty Images

WEST Coast has suffered a serious setback ahead of its crucial clash against Essendon, ruling out star playmakers Scott Selwood and Shannon Hurn with injury.

Selwood and Hurn will both miss large chunks of the remainder of the season as West Coast fights to stay in finals contention.

Selwood, 23, has as suspected broken thumb, while Hurn has a serious ankle injury.

A decision on whether they required surgery is expected from West Coast medical staff and advisers later today.

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Hurn, 25, could miss as much as eight weeks and only be back into action approaching the September finals, if West Coast is still in contention.

Eagles coach John Worsfold confirmed his latest injury woes on today.

He said Selwood could miss up to a month if the injury requires surgery.

"There's every possibility it will require some surgery," Worsfold said.

"That looks like he will miss a number of weeks."

Worsfold described Hurn's damaged right ankle as "pretty bad".

"Bracing for the worst scenario is he will need some surgery and be out for a couple of months and that certainly could be the case.

"At best he'll miss a couple of weeks.

"It's a some sort of tendon he has torn in his ankle and not a ligament. Most sprained ankles are ligament sprains."

Brad Sheppard, Jacob Brennan and Will Schofield are in the mix for recalls against the Bombers then a potentially defining block of clashes that follows: Adelaide in Adelaide, Fremantle and then reigning premier Sydney as West Coast fights to stay in touch with the top eight.

Both players were hurt during West Coast's 20-point loss to premiership favourite Hawthorn in Melbourne on Friday night.

Selwood is the Eagles' reigning fairest-and-best winner and would have been an ideal run-with candidate to play on Bombers captain Jobe Watson.

Hurn is the Eagles' most important link-up player in defence and vital to West Coast kick-in strategies.

He was subbed out of Friday's clash with the Hawks at quarter-time after suffering nasty ligament damage during a frenetic opening term.