West Coast coach Adam Simpson believes co-captain Oscar Allen’s return will complement the Eagles’ tall forward mix, even if it takes some time to find a groove.
Allen will play his first game since round one after battling a knee injury, and in his absence Jake Waterman has hit career-best form, kicking 33 goals to sit equal-second in the Coleman Medal race.
“I think Jakey has really thrived on the leadership side of things with (Jack) Darling as a bit of a mentor for him,” Simpson said.
“Jack has really supplied some really good support and pressure around that forward line, and Jake has really stood up with his presence.
“I would’ve thought Oscar complements that, but that might not be straight away.
“But it’s great to know that we’ve got a couple of young forwards there who in the long run they’ll make it work.”
With ruck recruit Matt Flynn returning from injury in two games before the bye, Bailey Williams has shuffled his role to a preferred forward-ruck position and mid-season rookie Jack Hutchinson has also come into the side.
However, Simpson highlighted the flexibility of precision-kicking Ryan Maric as another way to look at the line-up.
“If it’s Darling, Allen and Waterman predominantly in your forward line, with a bit of Bailey, I think that can work but we’ve got to have a look at it, at the very least,” Simpson said.
“It’s worked in the past.
“Some of these younger players we’ll look at different positions as well. We think Ryan has got scope for other areas of the ground so back, wing or forward.
“These younger players while they’re developing their profile and craft we can expose them in other areas of the ground as well.
“There’s a bit to play with with the side. It’s pretty flexible due to the fact there’s some youth there that we can try in different positions.”
Simpson confirmed the Eagles would weigh up tagging Essendon captain Zach Merrett, who dominated with three goals and 29 possessions in West Coast’s six-point loss in round nine at Optus Stadium.
“We’ve got to look at that,” Simpson said.
“They’ve got some pretty dynamic midfielders. We have been starting quite poorly around the ball with stoppages, so a big focus for us will be that.
“We take on Merrett or not … he’s a very good player, he’s their captain, so we think he’s pretty important to them.”
The Eagles will regain classy forward Tyler Brockman from a club-imposed suspension, while veteran Andrew Gaff and defender Harry Edwards will play WAFL against South Fremantle.
Brockman was Trademark Player for the WAFL Eagles before the bye and has worked hard to improve his GPS numbers.
“Within the four walls we need to take care of him and try and get him a career that gives the club as much as we give him, we’re just at the start of that really,” Simpson said.
“Getting him available, ticking some things off from a training, standards and performance point-of-view, he’s done that pretty well.
“Then there’s some off-field stuff we’re going to work on, and that will take years.”
