Harry Edwards hasn’t spent a lot of time playing forward since being drafted in 2018.

But he needed to call on some forward craft to secure his place in the West Coast Eagles team to play Geelong tomorrow night – his first in senior football.

At today’s captain’s run at Mineral Resources Park, senior coach Adam Simpson wandered across to the defensive group as they limbered up for the session.

He told Edwards he would make his debut against the Cats – if he could slot a set shot at goal towards the southern end of the club’s facility.

Edwards nailed it and was immediately swamped by his backline buddies.

They are able to train in only groups of eight under COVID-19 training protocols, but the thrill remained the same.

Edwards comes in to replace injured all-Australian defender Jeremy McGovern, who will miss his second match with a fractured thumb.

Originally a midfielder in his formative years, he has grown about 20cm in the last couple of years to develop into a key defender.

“I knew Gov was a bit 50-50 and was always going to try it out a training today and see how it went, the cards fell my way and I’m debuting,” Edwards said excitedly.

“Simmo got me out in front of all the boys, let them know I was playing and I had to take a kick for goal.

“If I kicked it I was playing and if I missed it I wasn’t, or so he says. I went back and kicked, all the boys got around me and I’m in.

"I will do what I do, normal preparation, do everything I have done my whole life playing footy. Play to my strengths and do my best.

"I’m stoked, can’t wait for it.”