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West Coast Eagles duo Josh Rotham, Tom Cole share happy snap after ugly head clash

The West Australian
VideoAFL: West Coast Eagles Josh Rotham and Tom Cole have limped off the field after a bloody headclash saw them both a little dazed.

West Coast fans can breathe a sigh of relief after Josh Rotham and Tom Cole shared a happy snap following their sickening collision in the dying stages of their clash against Collingwood.

Cole appeared to come off worse for wear, and spent minutes sprawled on the Optus Stadium turf as play stopped late in the last quarter for club medical staff to make their way to the far side of the field.

Both Cole and Rotham had been attempting to tackle Collingwood’s John Noble when they collided front on with each other.

Cole’s forehead was split in the clash while Rotham suffered a laceration to the top of his head.

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Rotham left the field unassisted, while Cole came off in the hands of trainers - but a happy snap of the pair in the changerooms after the win has provided some reassurance they’ve dodged a bullet.

“Mint to see Tony Galati post-game,” Rotham posted to his Instagram story, insinuating Cole’s monobrow made him look like the ‘Potato King’, Spudshed owner Tony Galati.

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Eagles coach Adam Simpson also took the opportunity to poke fun at Cole’s new appearance in his post-game press conference.

“Coley and Roth are okay. Coley already had a monobrow before the game so now he’s got a permanent one I think,” Simpson quipped.

“Poor bugger’s got a scar from eyebrow to eyebrow and Roth the same. I don’t think they’ve got concussion, they were smiling and giggling next to each other in the medico room there.

Camera IconCredit: Instagram, Dom Sheed shared this snap of Tom Cole after his ugly head clash with Josh Rotham.

“(We’ve) dodged a bullet, it looked horrifying really. Both have developed really well for us over the last couple of years and they’re having good seasons so hopefully they’re okay.”

Under the AFL’s new concussion protocols, the duo would miss a minimum of 12 days if they were concussed, with Simpson hopeful the club had avoided that outcome.

The Eagles’ next clash is on the road against Geelong, before returning for the round seven Western Derby against Fremantle.

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