Champion West Coast Eagles forward Josh Kennedy completed the formalities of proving his fitness at today’s main training session and has been included in the team to tackle Carlton at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
Kennedy was rested last week, saved from the arduous task of travelling to Melbourne with a menacing knee injury, but will resume against the club with whom he started his career.
Kennedy, the Eagles' all-time leading goal-kicker, is just two goals short of the 700-goal mark with the club as he closes in on drawing the curtain on his stellar career.
The presence of Kennedy will reunite him with fellow key target Jack Darling and give the Eagles another tall option forward, something that was missed in the 35-point loss to Richmond last week.
Carlton boasts two quality forwards themselves through Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow. To help combat the Blues twin towers, emerging tall defender Harry Edwards has also been promoted.
Edwards had a record 23 marks in a WAFL match against South Fremantle a fortnight ago, but without the right match-up against the Tigers was a spectator after travelling as an emergency.
The 200cm defender was named in the starting 18 and in the absence of vice-captain Jeremy McGovern will be required to offer aerial support to Tom Barrass.
Unfortunately, rebounding defender Elliot Yeo (hamstring) and emerging midfielder Connor West (achilles) could not be considered while Josh Rotham was squeezed out of the team through the return of Edwards.
The interchange will come from Samo Petrevski-Seton, last week’s medical substitute, Jack Petruccelle, Alex Witherden, Zane Trew, Luke Foley, Bailey Williams, Greg Clark or Jai Culley.