West Coast Eagles star Nic Naitanui to see a specialist as timeline removed over lengthy Achilles injury

West Coast will seek outside help in a desperate bid to find an answer to Nic Naitanui’s injury woes and have now removed any timeline around the star ruck’s return. Naitanui will now be sent to a specialist as he continues to battle a long-term Achilles problem and the Eagles count the cost of another brutal weekend of carnage that added insult — and illness — to injury. The 33-year-old was last week expected to return within five-to-six weeks, after coach Adam Simpson earlier this year conceded the club had misled fans around the extent of his injury. “Nic will see a specialist as we attempt to gather as much information as we can to make a decision on the next steps about the management of his Achilles,” head of health Mark Finucane said. “When we have more information we will provide a further update.” It comes after the club revealed Liam Duggan was in hospital with illness on Tuesday in the latest cruel twist to the Eagles’ unavailability crisis. It also meant Duggan’s one-match ban for a dangerous tackle on Collingwood’s Taylor Adams will stand, with the club pulling its appeal against the rough conduct charge, confirming he will add to the mounting list of players unavailable for Saturday’s clash with Adelaide. But the Eagles could be set to welcome back captain Luke Shuey, Luke Edwards and Samo Petrevski-Seton, while key forward Jack Darling is also an outside chance to face Adelaide. Shuey must get through main training this week to be cleared to return from his latest soft tissue set-back, while Edwards is waiting for a final tick in his recovery from concussion and Petrevski-Seton also must be cleared on the track. “Luke, Luke and Samo just have to get through main training this week to be available for the weekend,” Finucane said. “All have progressed through their respective rehabilitation programs. “Jack’s been an absolute pro in looking after his arm so he’s actually pushing to play this weekend. “He’s got to get through training later in the week and then he might be a chance to play against Adelaide.” Duggan was at the club as the Eagles braved miserable conditions for a light run at Mineral Resources Park on Monday, but didn’t join teammates in the session. He will grow the ballooning 20-strong injury list that on Saturday added veteran Shannon Hurn with a hamstring problem, Connor West with a knee injury and first-year player Elijah Hewett with a concussion after he was struck by Jordan De Goey’s brutal late bump. Crucial defender Tom Barrass will miss at least the Adelaide clash after being pulled from the side late at the weekend with a hip flexor issue. As first reported by The West Australian, Callum Jamieson is out for an indefinite stint with a hip injury and first-year pair Coby Burgiel and Jordyn Baker have both suffered hamstring injuries. Speedy defender Burgiel will have surgery on his hamstring, while rookie Baker’s is less severe. The pair were both pulled from the club’s WAFL loss to Swan Districts on Sunday. Hurn’s latest devastating soft-tissue blow is only expected to keep him out for two-to-three weeks, which means he could return for the post-bye trip to Sydney. No timeline has been placed on the knee injury which forced West out of the game against the Magpies in the first quarter. After racking up a club-high 10-consecutive defeats in Saturday’s loss to Collingwood, the Eagles are staring down the barrel of another unwanted milestone. If they lose their next game by more than 40 points they will equal the league-record set by North Melbourne just last year. Just six players, Zane Trew, Campbell Chesser, Harry Barnett, Jack Williams, Tyrell Dewar and last week’s top mid-season draft pick Ryan Maric played for the Eagles in their reserves defeat. Dewar is a rookie-listed project player, Williams is recovering from a spleen injury and Maric had landed in the State for the first time just three days before that game. Meanwhile defender Tom Doedee has become just the third player on Adelaide’s injury list — and only member of the best 22 — ruled out for the season with an ACL injury.