Selection at the West Coast Eagles has something of an NFL feel about it.
Rotate one team off and bring in the next.
The Eagles have rotated six players out – most of them because of injury – and brought in six more. It’s like bringing on ‘special’ teams to take on the next phase of the game. Only in this instance it’s for the whole game.
As West Coast prepares for another match that will play a role in how the season falls – don’t they all in this compressed season – they have brought back star ruckman Nic Naitanui, premiership captain Shannon Hurn and premiership defender Will Schofield for this clash with St Kilda at the Gabba tomorrow night.
In addition, young midfielder Jarrod Brander returns and so does speedster Jack Petruccelle, while midfield bull Hamish Brayshaw will make his senior debut.
Naitanui and Hurn were rested against the Bulldogs on Sunday night, while Schofield will play his third game of the season, resuming after surgery a month ago to correct an elbow problem.
Petruccelle has not played since the Eagles were in their first Queensland hub, badly damaging a hamstring in a scrimmage session against Adelaide two months ago.
Brayshaw, selection 68 in the 2017 draft, has seen a number of contemporaries get their opportunity at the elite level this season and finally it is his time. He becomes player No.255 to represent the club and the seventh player to debut for the Eagles in this campaign – behind Tim Kelly, Jamaine Jones, Harry Edwards, Nic Reid, Xavier O’Neill and Bailey Williams.
Brander and Brayshaw will be enlisted to offset the loss of several premiership players from a decimated midfield unit.
Already without Luke Shuey and Elliot Yeo against the Bulldogs, Jack Redden (thumb), Dom Sheed (hamstring) and Mark Hutchings (hamstring) are casualties from Sunday’s game while Brendon Ah Chee (finger) and Lewis Jetta (calf) have also been ruled out.
Ruckman Tom Hickey has made way for Naitanui.
Brayshaw is a see ball, get ball kind of player who is a strong inside player and is looking forward to his opportunity.
