Nine players will pull on the West Coast wings for the first time when the Eagles meet Fremantle in an AFLW practice match on Saturday.
The clash at Mineral Resources Park - which will be closed to public due to COVID-19 protocols protecting players, staff and the community – will be the team’s first and only warm-up game ahead of round one against Gold Coast.
Last year’s top draft pick Bella Lewis, former Western Bulldogs midfielder Aisling McCarthy and ex-Fever netballer Andrea Gilmore will be among the Eagles making their first appearances for the club.
South Australian duo Amber Ward and Lauren Gauci, both from North Adelaide, will also run out alongside fellow 2020 draftee Shanae Davison.
We take on Fremantle in a practice match this Saturday!
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) January 14, 2021
Unfortunately the match will be closed to the public, due to AFL COVID-19 protocols. pic.twitter.com/fPBsprT2Lr
Defender Tayla Bresland, who played 17 AFLW games for the Dockers, will be up against her former teammates for the first time after switching to West Coast last year.
Peel Thunderbirds premiership player Demi Liddle will also step out in blue and gold after replacing Ashton Hill (ACL) on the active players list in November, and defender Brianna Green will make a long-awaited first appearance after missing the team’s inaugural season due to injury.
The team will be led again by midfield guns Emma Swanson and Dana Hooker, the captain and vice-captain respectively.
Saturday’s match will also mark the start of the Daniel Pratt era when he coaches the team for the first time.
Missing from action will be Imahra Cameron (leg), Mhicca Carter (foot), Courtney Guard (hand), Niamh Kelly (leg) and Julie-Anne Norrish (groin).
Four WAFLW players - Sasha Goranova (Claremont), Jessica Low (Claremont), Ella Smith (Claremont) and Roisin Walsh (East Fremantle) - have grabbed the opportunity play.