The WAFL Eagles will welcome several key position players back into the fold for tomorrow’s crunch clash with Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval.
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Premiership defender Liam Duggan, who has spent three weeks on the sidelines nursing an ankle syndesmosis injury, is the biggest in for the state league side.
He will take the field alongside fellow backman Harry Edwards, who will make his long-awaited return from a foot injury.
Brayden Ainsworth, who was held over for the club’s AFL clash with North Melbourne last Saturday, is also set to line up against the Black Ducks, as is key forward Patrick Bines, who will make his first appearance since the club's inaugural WAFL fixture against Perth at Mineral Resources Park.
Bines has been in the club's rehabilitation group for the majority of the season after undergoing surgery to remedy a hernia injury that presented after the round one loss to the Demons.
While the club will be boosted by the returns of Duggan, Edwards and Ainsworth, it will be without a number of influential players, most notably defenders Luke Foley (injured) and Drew Petrie (rested).
West Coast will be looking to bounce back from its disappointing round 16 loss to Subiaco and the club’s match-up against the Swans serves as the first obstacle in what will be an important final month of the season.
George Hampson has been Swan Districts’ leading possession winner this season, averaging 23.7 disposals a game, while Leigh Kohlmann has led the Swans’ forward line booting 21 goals in 14 games.
Josh Rotham was one of West Coast’s best against the Lions and could be a potential option to match up against Kohlmann.
Keegan Brooksby (28.9 hit-outs per game) has been a solid contributor in recent weeks and will no doubt play a key role against Swans’ ruck duo Nathan Blakely (22.2) and Corey Gault (17.4).
Swan Districts got the better of West Coast earlier this year, prevailing by 14 points in round seven.
Brooksby dominated the ruck with a game-high 50 hit-outs, while Jarrod Cameron booted four goals against his former WAFL club.
Bouncedown is at 2.15pm at Steel Blue Oval tomorrow.
