Champion forward Josh Kennedy is an important inclusion for Saturday’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round clash with the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium.

After missing two weeks with a knee injury, the leading goalkicker in club history has been cleared to resume his position deep in attack as the Eagles plot to win their second game of the season.

Also coming into the line-up are utility Samo Petrevski-Seton, who has emerged from AFL Health and Safety protocols, while young defender Brady Hough, who was the medical substitute last week, comes into the 22-man team.

With Petrevski-Seton exiting isolation today, it is the first time this season that the club has not had at least one player unavailable through the impacts of COVID-19.

In further good news for the Eagles, captain Luke Shuey, who was subbed out of the game late in the final term against GWS with a tight back, has been given the medical green light.

Making way for the return of Kennedy, Hough and Petrevski-Seton are tall utility Hugh Dixon, wingman Patrick Naish and defender Josh Rotham.

All three were named as emergencies, with rookie defender Rhett Bazzo. One of those players will strip as the medical substitute.