In a season where player availability has been at its lowest ebb in history, normal service will resume for the West Coast Eagles match committee this week.

For the first time this season form will play a large part in the selection process as the club prepares to play Geelong at Optus Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

With 13 AFL-listed players taking the field for the WAFL Eagles against Claremont last Saturday, senior coach Adam Simpson and his selection cohort will have much to ponder.

Among the senior players available will be 2018 premiership hero Dom Sheed, fellow stars from that performance in small forwards Liam Ryan and Willie Rioli as well as midfield bull Elliot Yeo, who could not play because of suspension.

In addition vice-captain Jeremy McGovern has recovered from a back injury, Jack Petruccelle has overcome a hamstring strain and small utility player Jamaine Jones has satisfied the rest and recovery requirement of AFL concussion protocols.

While 13 players represented the club in the WAFL match, others enjoyed the mid-season bye from AFL competition.

“It gave us an opportunity to play a few guys at WAFL,” Simpson said. “So we are going to get a cluster of players back. All of them coming off injury have played one or two games in the WAFL.

“It always takes a few weeks of AFL exposure; even playing a bit of WAFL is not the be-all and end-all but we have five or six players who have played one or two WAFL games and that will have them better prepared for sure.

“We are trying to get settled on-field, trying to get a bit of synergy with our senior team for what’s in front of us and to then get some of those small wins. Start winning quarters, start winning halves, start winning games.

“We haven’t had training or match committee but those guys should be available.

“Then there are guys who deserve to stay in and others who haven’t been lucky, but we haven’t had that (selection) pressure at match committee. We haven’t had the luxury of getting guys into form in the WAFL.

“It gets to a point where you’ve got to get them in; Dom’s played three WAFL games, Yeoy has played a couple and Willie and Liam have played one.”

The balance for Simpson and his match committee is making the decision around bringing in a handful of senior players at the same time. He reflected on a situation last year, against the Western Bulldogs, when an injection of seniority did not result in a stronger team performance.   

“There was the game against the Bulldogs last year when we brought several players back and we under-performed,” he said. “So there is going to be the synergy piece no matter what, trying to get everybody back on the same wave length and then there is match day fitness.

“The work they have done at WAFL level we’re really happy with and the work they have done on the track so it’s about getting everyone together. So how do we do that? Do we stagger it, do we bring them all in, we’re working through that.”