Three exciting West Coast forwards are in the mix to replace Jamaine Jones for Saturday’s clash with Adelaide.
Eagles coach Adam Simpson will have to make at least two changes to the side which overpowered Sydney, with skipper Luke Shuey and Jones both set for a stint on the sidelines nursing hamstring setbacks.
Skilled goalsneak Jarrod Cameron is back in the frame for senior football after a lengthy recovery from groin issues, with the 20-year-old a chance to add to his seven matches from last year.
Cameron was a bright spark in 2019, booting 11 goals and bringing defensive intensity by laying 28 tackles.
He is vying for a spot with Jack Petruccelle, who has impressed in recent scrimmages after appearing in the first three matches this year, and former North Beach amateur Nic Reid, who is pushing to debut after overcoming hamstring and shoulder issues.
“They’re both in the mix, Jack and ‘Cammo’ are available,” Simpson told Channel Seven. “Nic Reid has put his hand up, he’s building his fitness back from injury, so some small forwards there with a little bit of form, albeit it was scrimmage type of play against Gold Coast.
“I think it was 15 on 15, but a little bit of form there for all those guys and match committee will be interesting this week.”
Simpson praised the Eagles’ intensity around the football following the Swans triumph, with raging bull Elliot Yeo back to his brutish best after Shuey went down before quarter-time.
Dual club champion Yeo won nine clearances, laid five tackles and won 21 disposals to lead the productive engine room display alongside star ruck Nic Naitanui.
“I think collectively our intensity has been down a little bit over the last three weeks. The focus for the boys was to bring that intensity for four quarters,” Simpson said.
“I was really proud of that second half. We faded away all year really, so to finish the game off well was important.
“Elliot has been thereabouts, but I thought on the weekend he really showed what he is capable of.”
Shuey is hopeful of returning in the 51st RAC Derby on July 19 at Optus Stadium, but the coach isn’t looking beyond the Crows and the chance to square the win-loss ledger before returning to Perth on Saturday evening.
“It’s been a big month (in Queensland). We’ve been disappointing in patches and on the weekend I thought we got back to some of our better footy,” Simpson told Channel Seven.
“We’re 2-3, we’ve got Adelaide this week in a shortened season, one week left in the hub, the boys have really embraced the environment and we just want to win this week, so we’re looking to square the ledger.
“Not much more than that at the moment.”
