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Coach backs Cox to continue

Coach backs Cox to continue

West Coast coach Adam Simpson has endorsed veteran Dean Cox to continue having an impact this season, but admits the club faces a juggling act with their emerging ruck talent.

Cox was a notable omission from the Eagles' side to play St Kilda this week, with the 32-year-old rested for the second consecutive week.

Darren Glass' sudden retirement last week has raised questions about Cox's future, but Simpson was strong on his position this morning when asked if it was time to move Cox on.

"Not at all," he said.

"We're just managing him in the right way. Like I said he's 33 years old, he might be 32, maybe I gave him an extra year.

"He looked a bit sore a few weeks ago and a bit heavy in the legs so we think the freshen up will be really good for him.

"I think he said to me he'll wait and see how his body pulls up for the rest of the season and see how we go towards the end of the year.

"It's something we'll look at, where he's at and where his body is at and where he is mentally at the end of the year."

Scott Lycett stepped up in a back-up role to No.1 ruckman Nic Naitanui in the club's win over Gold Coast last week.

Simpson said with Callum Sinclair also performing strongly in the WAFL, there would be headaches over ruck selection for most of the season.

"We want give opportunity to all four," he said.

"The balancing act is quite difficult.

"We don't think we're losing too much with any of those players, so that's a really good problem to have.

"But it's giving them opportunity and also respecting Dean with where he's at as well.

"It's just about development and also getting the best team out there as well. It feels like we're pretty evenly matched with all four, albeit Nic is probably our number one."