A 10-day break between East Perth’s ANZAC Day match against Perth and Sunday’s AFL encounter between West Coast and the Western Bulldogs could prove beneficial when the match committee contemplates team selection.

Experienced midfielders Matt Rosa and Sharrod Wellingham had plenty of the ball for the Royals, and as the Eagles search for a much-needed victory, both are sure to figure in the selection debate.

Each of them accumulated around 30 possessions and were outstanding contributors, despite the Royals slipping to a 51-point defeat when much of the damage was done in the last quarter.

Rosa was having his second hit-out for East Perth after recovering from surgery as a result of a severe cork suffered in the final NAB Cup clash against Port Adelaide in Alice Springs.

Wellingham played in the opening triangular series of the pre-season competition before injuring an ankle in a trampoline accident the next day. He had not played since, but showed his class for East Perth and will come under strong consideration despite a limited preparation.

The extended recovery period will give the match committee something to ponder.

While Rosa and Wellingham will be somewhere near the front of the selection queue, they are by no means the only players outside the team that lost by five points to Port Adelaide staking a claim for a berth against the Bulldogs.

Defender Blayne Wilson has been solid all season for East Perth and was again under notice against Perth, while Cale Morton continues to gain some momentum in his season and ruckman-forward Scott Lycett produced one of the best efforts of his season with 17 possessions, seven marks and three goals.

Key figures in the Perth victory were West Coast-listed players Simon Tunbridge, Ashley Smith and Fraser McInnes.

Tunbridge was strong and reliable up forward with four goals, McInnes played with energy and enthusiasm, while Smith’s rebounding capacity off half-back was a key factor in the Demons’ resounding victory.

Elsewhere, Brad Dick and Brad Sheppard were influential in a convincing derby victory over South Fremantle, Adam Carter continues to develop in senior ranks for the Bulldogs and Mark Hutchings was again close to West Perth’s best in a loss to Swan Districts.

Dick kicked two goals from limited opportunities, while Sheppard, resuming from a shoulder injury, was enterprising through the midfield and on a wing and provided plenty of drive for the Sharks.