'It's juvenile': Anger over tiny detail in West Coast Eagles photo

The West Coast Eagles have slammed the action of three players in a post-match photo after their victory on the weekend.

On Sunday, West Coast dismantled Fremantle in a 59-point thrashing despite an ongoing injury crisis to the team's back row.

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However, fans noticed a gesture from Jack Redden, Alex Witherden and Jamaine Jones during a photo on social media.

The three of them made the upside-down three-finger circle gesture.

But in recent years, the symbol has been used by extreme right-wing groups and has thus become a symbol of 'white power'.

Fans questioned the gesture on the social media post.

This prompted the Eagles to slam the "juvenile" act, but claimed it was intended as a prank game known as the 'circle game' between the players.

“We have asked questions and it is all to do with the circle game,” a spokesperson for the club told The West Australian.

“It’s juvenile and should not have been a part of the post-game photo.”

West Coast's injury crisis deepens

Oscar Allen could be facing a stint on the sidelines after helping quell Matt Taberner as the key forward booted three goals on second-game defender Harry Edwards in the first half.

Eagles coach Adam Simpson was left with little choice but to play Allen into defence after Jeremy McGovern (groin), Tom Barrass (shoulder) and Shannon Hurn (calf) were all struck down by injuries over the past week.

McGovern will miss at least another week, Hurn is expected to miss two to three weeks with a recurrence of his calf injury, while Barrass appears almost certain to miss Sunday's clash with Hawthorn at the MCG.

Simpson is reluctant to play Allen in defence given the 22-year-old's star displays up forward this season, which included a five-goal haul against Collingwood two weeks ago.

The premiership coach has some other options to use in defence, but Allen is clearly the safest bet of the lot.

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