West Coast has added more running power to its AFLW squad after recruiting North Adelaide winger Katelyn Pope as an injury replacement player for Mhicca Carter.

Carter has been placed on the inactive player list for 2021 due to a navicular foot problem which will keep her sidelined for the entire season.

Pope is a former left-arm swing bowler for the SA Scorpions and Adelaide Strikers who has switched to the winter sport and thrived.

Blessed with speed and endurance, the 24-year-old can play on a wing or across half-forward and is a threat around goals.

Pope becomes the Eagles’ third recruit from North Adelaide after her former schoolmate Lauren Gauci and Amber Ward joined the club in October.

“Firstly, it is incredibly disappointing that Mhicca will miss the team’s second AFLW season as across the pre-season she has worked so hard but the club will support her through her recovery,” said Richard O’Connell, West Coast’s General Manager Community and Game Development who oversees the AFLW program.

“By placing Mhicca on the inactive player list it has created an opportunity for Katelyn, who we think can add some spark to the squad with her outstanding running ability.

“She has shown natural talent and goal sense in the SANFLW, and her experience with the Strikers in the WBBL should hold her in good stead coming into an elite program.

“We are really excited for her to join the squad this week.”

Pope will arrive in Perth on Tuesday and immediately hit the ground running with West Coast during a training session that evening – just days out from Saturday’s season-opener against Adelaide at Mineral Resources Park.

She has kept her fitness up since last season during pre-season training with her SANFLW squad and also works in strength and conditioning for South Australian cricket.

“I’m itching to get over there,” Pope told westcoasteagles.com.au.

“I’ve got my last shift at work at the SACA – I work with the junior girls in the under-19s - tonight so I’m expecting a few tears from me and them, but other than that it’s just been an absolute whirlwind.”

Pope will wear guernsey No.29 – her birthdate - for the Eagles and hopes it brings the same good fortune as the ‘lucky’ 13 she has worn for Broadview amateurs and North Adelaide.

The speedster has played in two premierships and is yet to taste defeat playing alongside Gauci and Ward.

“Me and Lauren always have a running joke that whenever we’ve played together we’ve never lost,” Pope said with a laugh.

The Roosters product, who has also been a boundary umpire in the SANFL under-18s and reserves, has already met West Coast’s Irish recruits on a Facetime call with Gauci to chat relocating to a new city.

She might even find time during her stint in Perth to complete the final unit of a masters in strength and conditioning at Edith Cowan University.

But, first and foremost, she is keen to continue her rapid progression in women’s football and to bring some more dash and dare to West Coast’s squad.

“I play mainly just up front and run really fast. Take the ball and have a bounce and just go,” Pope said.

“Hopefully that works well with the Eagles as well.”