The West Coast Eagles match committee took a conservative approach and opted against risking players with any doubt when selecting the 25-man squad to tackle Fremantle in Sunday’s Carlton Mid Derby at Patersons Stadium.

Midfielders Luke Shuey and Sharrod Wellingham, defender Sam Butler and utility player Adam Selwood were all left out of the squad despite strong training form today.

Full squad announcement

It appeared that Shuey, in particular, and Wellingham had done enough to erase any doubt with their training performances today, in front of a couple of thousand enthusiastic rookie members, but the match committee decided against their inclusions.

Shuey has missed two games with a hamstring strain, while Wellingham is ready to return from a second major ankle injury in the season.

With all of those players ruled out, the club will look at vaulting defenders Blayne Wilson and Ash Smith, first-year utility player Adam Carter, former Melbourne wingman Cale Morton and ruckman-forward Scott Lycett into the team.  

All of those players are vying for inclusion as replacements for injured vice-captain Beau Waters and the suspended Pat McGinnity.

There has been some media speculation that Naitanui is carrying an injury and would be in doubt for the big game, but he showed no signs of discomfort during a solid hit-out on Thursday morning.

Jacob Brennan, subbed out last week against Adelaide because of an adductor strain, also trained and looked in good fettle, as did reining Club Champion Scott Selwood, who is recovering from a broken thumb.

Wellingham last week played reserves with Claremont because his WAFL club, East Perth, was listed for a bye and in an extraordinary circumstance, the Royals will not play this week either.

West Coast v Fremantle
Sunday, July 14
Patersons Stadium, 2.40pm WST

B: Schofield, Glass, Brown
HB: Brennan, Mackenzie, Smith
C: Gaff, Priddis, Rosa
HF: Hutchings, Kennedy, Hill
F: LeCras, Cox, Darling
Foll: Naitanui, Masten, Dalziell
I/C (from): Carter, Cripps, Embley, Lycett, Morton, Sheppard, Wilson