Supplementary Selection Player Luke Strnadica will become the West Coast Eagles’ 11^th debutant for the season when he plays his first game in blue and gold at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

Listed by Fremantle in 2017 and 2018 he was released without playing a senior game, but the 203cm ruckman will play at the elite level for the first time against Port Adelaide.

Ironically, he comes in to replace another former Docker, Hugh Dixon, who was also added to the senior list via the last gasp pre-season opportunity. Dixon has been impressive forward and in the ruck, but could not be considered because of a calf injury.

The inclusion of Strnadica is one of four changes as the Eagles continue to battle continuity. Also included are young midfielders Xavier O’Neill and Connor West, while forward Jake Waterman, the unused medical sub last week, has been named in the starting line-up.

Making way for those players are defender Josh Rotham and small forwards Zac Langdon and Jamaine Jones.

West played strongly against Collingwood but could not be considered last week because of a hip injury, while Waterman and O’Neill shone for the WAFL Eagles.

Strnadica comes into the team for precisely the reason he was selected, to fill the void left by the knee injury to Nic Naitanui that will sideline the star big man for the next couple of months.

Strnadica suffered a planta fasciitis problem in the pre-season and has played the last two games in the WAFL – one of them a practice match – as he built his fitness base. He was the best big man afield when the WAFL Eagles lost to Perth by a kick last week.

His inclusion means the club will have used 41 players just six games into the 2022 campaign, the most ever to represent the club in one season. It also means the club is closing in on the record 13 players who represented the Eagles for the first time in 2001.

Of that large contingent 21 years ago, seven were recruited from rival clubs – Trent Carroll, Michael Collica, Greg Harding, Mark Merenda, Michael Prior, David Sierakowski and Richard Taylor.

Four changes represents the least disruption from week to week for the Eagles this season.