The WAFL Eagles’ build towards round one will step up a gear when they face Claremont in a practice match at Revo Fitness Stadium on Saturday.
Thirteen AFL-listed players have been named in the starting 18, with draftees Elijah Hewett and Harry Barnett in the engine room of coach Rob Wiley’s team and Coby Burgiel slotting in across half-back.
Jake Waterman is set to spearhead the attack on managed minutes after an interrupted summer, with big man Harry Edwards the other bookend at full-back.
Last year’s Emerging Talent award winner Brady Hough is returning to action following illness last week and will slot in on a half-back flank.
Samo Petrevski-Seton is set to inject some class across half-forward, alongside category B rookie Tyrell Dewar, while emerging onballer Luke Edwards will get another game under his belt following a long injury lay-off last year.
Gun recruit Alec Waterman will miss the warm-up game against his former club due to back tightness, while the Eagles are taking a no-risk approach with Jai Culley who is being managed due to calf tightness.
Practice match v Claremont:
B Browne H. Edwards Henderson
HB Hough Foley Burgiel
C Clark Nelson L.Edwards
HF Petrevski-Seton Winder Dewar
F J.Edwards J.Waterman McCarthy
FOL Barnett Hewett Trew
INT Collins, Eastough, Levien, Nitschke, O’Sullivan, Sambo, Watson