Fremantle great Matthew Pavlich has called out the medical sub and West Coast “manipulating” the rule.
Eagles captain Luke Shuey was substituted out of the game with a calf issue, later described by Adam Simpson as “calf awareness”.
“He (Shuey) has got calf awareness and we just didn‘t want to take a risk,” Simpson said post-game.
“At this stage we don’t know (the severity). It could be nothing and we are holding out hope (of that).
“It is definitely minor but because of his history we didn’t want to take a risk ... I can’t tell you what is going to happen.”
Pavlich is frustrated by the medical sub rule, given it was initially pitched as only for injuries that would require at least a week on the sidelines.
“Can I raise something with you about the medical sub and Luke Shuey going off yesterday?” Pavlich told SEN WA.
“The coach has said he’s not that sore, it was precautionary. Well, why do we have the medical sub?
“We knew this was going to happen. Why do we use the medical sub rule when someone like Luke Shuey will probably play next week?
“It was precautionary. He hasn’t done his calf. He’s walking around, he’s probably going to train this week and going to play this week.
“I get having it for concussion. We want to protect the head. If they are concussed, there’s an opportunity for a player to come off.
“But the medical sub, they are just manipulating this rule and it was always going to be the case and I don’t like it.”