A mix of youth and experience will be injected into the West Coast Eagles team as the club relishes a rare opportunity to play Friday night football when it hosts Gold Coast at Optus Stadium.
Aside from debutant Clay Hall, the son of former forward Derek Hall, the Eagles have also recalled wingman Harvey Johnston and half-forward Tyrell Dewar who each debuted earlier in the season.
Additionally three defenders – co-captain Liam Duggan, four-time all-Australian Jeremy McGovern and experienced half-back Alex Witherden – have been recalled. They were all unavailable for last week’s RAC Derby.
Duggan was in concussion protocols, McGovern was overcoming a three-week rib injury and Witherden had a hip issue.
Of the six changes for tomorrow night’s game, five were forced.
Key defender Tom Barrass is in concussion protocols, together with wingman Luke Edwards, while defender Josh Rotham has an abdominal issue. Forwards Jack Petruccelle and Jack Hutchinson are both serving one game suspensions.
The only omission from the team that produced a spirited performance against Fremantle is midfielder Jai Culley, who has been named as an emergency alongside Campbell Chesser and tall forward Archer Reid.
The inclusion of Hall takes to six the number of debutants this season as he follows Harley Reid, Loch Rawlinson, Johnston, Dewar and Hutchinson into senior football.
A hard-nosed midfielder he has been named on a five-man bench with Zane Trew, who has been cleared to play after an opening minute neck injury last week, Johnston, forward Jack Williams and Dewar.
