The West Coast Eagles will come into the final match of the season against North Melbourne with a handful of changes, most noticeably returning defender Amber Ward who was expected to be ruled out for the season with a fractured finger.

Ward will be joined down back by last week’s debutant in Beth Schilling who has been retained for a second match, as well as West Coast’s prized first draft pick Charlie Thomas and Belinda Smith.

Another member of the 2021 draft class, Emily Bennett, will also come back into the team after playing two games for West Coast, with her last match against Brisbane in round eight at Mineral Resources Park.

In the midfield, Kellie Gibson will make her return to the side after being omitted in the match against the Bulldogs at Optus Stadium, while youngster Courtney Rowley will have an opportunity to show her wares as a winger in her fifth game at AFLW level.

Emma Swanson will again lead the side with a broken finger, and will be joined in the onball brigade by Gibson and hardnosed midfielder Bella Lewis.

Ruck-forward Sarah Lakay will also start in the Eagles’ engine room, with experienced utility Parris Laurie to line up in the forward line alongside key defender Evie Gooch, versatile midfielder Mikayla Bowen and Grace Kelly.

Shanae Davison also makes her return as a forward, filling a gap in the line with Imahra Cameron entering the AFL’s Health and Safety Protocols, tall Andrea Gilmore injuring her ankle and Melissa Caulfield being omitted.

Dana Hooker will also not return to field this season after succumbing to a shoulder injury in the second quarter last week, while Courtney Guard played her final match as an Eagle at Optus Stadium before retiring.