The extraordinary journey from a Category B rookie selection 18 months ago to playing senior football was today franked with Kalgoorlie product Tyrell Dewar chosen to make his senior debut against Collingwood on Sunday.

Dewar, identified by West Coast Eagles Next Generation Academy talent scouts, relocated from the Goldfields to play with Subiaco and was selected in the 2023 rookie draft.

He blossomed in his second pre-season to the extent that he had been on the cusp of selection several times earlier in this campaign before finally getting the nod today.

He has been named as the replacement for injured small forward Noah Long, who will miss a significant amount of football after straining his PCL against Essendon last Saturday night.

The addition of Dewar into a 26-man squad was one of six additions to the team that lost by a goal to the Bombers with veteran Andrew Gaff, utility player Jayden Hunt, rebounding defender Jamaine Jones, forward Ryan Maric and key defender Harry Edwards all named on the extended interchange bench.

In addition to Long the club could not consider red-hot forward Jake Waterman (concussion) or powerful midfielder Elliot Yeo (groin). 

Gaff has been the most consistent performer for more than a month in the WAFL and continues to press claims for a recall while Edwards was close to the best afield for the WAFL Eagles last Sunday.

Hunt, who for the first time since joining the club as a free agent 18 months the game last week with knee soreness and Maric, who was a late withdrawal with illness, appear to have made strong recoveries.

The club will finalise its line-up tomorrow before departing for Melbourne.