Two players at contrasting phases of their careers have been named in the West Coast Eagles team to play Richmond at the MCG on Sunday.

Champion ruckman Nic Naitanui will return for his first match since round four while young midfielder Zane Trew will become the club’s 15^th debutant of the 2022 campaign.

The highly-anticipated return of Naitanui, who injured his knee in the dying minutes of a victory against Collingwood at Marvel Stadium on April 9, has been off-set with star forward Josh Kennedy being rested.

A five-goal hero in last week’s 10-point victory over Essendon, 267-game veteran Kennedy has been rested for this clash while developing ruckman Callum Jamieson has made way for Naitanui.

Trew will become the 46^th player to play for the club this season when he makes his long-awaited entry into senior football. Selected through the 2020 rookie draft, the 20-year-old inside midfielder has confronted a run of injuries which have been speed humps on his journey.

Clean around the contest he has been named at half-forward and news of his inclusion was made a team meeting today.

While Trew is certain to get his opportunity another youngster will also be hoping to get his first crack at elite football with mid-season draftee Jai Culley named on the extended interchange bench.

Culley has played two WAFL games since being drafted with the club’s first selection in the mid-season draft and has played strongly.

Others on the eight-man bench that will be reduced to four tomorrow afternoon are youngsters Brady Hough, Harry Edwards and Connor West, with Sam Petrevski-Seton, Jack Petruccelle, Alex Witherden and Josh Rotham.