A cluster of highly decorated players – and yet another debutant – that was the contrast and balance from the match committee as it settled on the team to play Geelong at Optus Stadium on Saturday.
Versatile young defender Rhett Bazzo will become the club’s 14th debutant of the season after being named in the Eagles starting line-up to play in the momentous game against the Cats as the club celebrates the 30th anniversary of the 1992 premiership.
Snared with selection 37 in the 2021 draft, Bazzo is the son of former WAFL star the late Steve Bazzo.
After suffering an injury setback in the latter stages of pre-season he has worked his way into senior calculations with a strong run of form for the WAFL Eagles.
The 195cm key back was a shining light against Claremont last Saturday and was informed of his selection at a team meeting this afternoon.
Bazzo, 18, joins fellow 2021 draftees Brady Hough, Jack Williams and Greg Clark to get a taste of senior football this year. Campbell Chesser, the club’s first selection, is the only player from that group who has not played after being placed on the inactive list because of a serious ankle injury.
While the gangly Bazzo will play his first game, he has been elevated with four members of the 2018 premiership team – four time all-Australian Jeremy McGovern, midfield hard nut Elliot Yeo, loping left footed midfielder Dom Sheed and lively forward Willie Rioli.
Also promoted are small utility player Jamaine Jones and fleet-footed forward Jack Petruccelle.
Unfortunately another forward line maestro, Liam Ryan could not be considered because of illness and Samo Petrevski-Seton (ill) was also unavailable.
While there was a flood of seven inclusions that also meant a number of exclusions with Isiah Winder, Alex Witherden, Clark, Jackson Nelson, Luke Foley, Harry Edwards and Patrick Naish all making way.
Witherden, Foley, Nelson and Clark were all named on the interchange and one of them will be the team’s medical sub.
While Bazzo becomes the 14th player to debut for the club this year the inclusion of Sheed also means that the club will have fielded 45 different players during this tumultuous season by round 14.
