West Coast’s midfield stocks have been further depleted with Jack Graham joining Deven Robertson on the sidelines as they prepare for the monumental task of taking down cross-town rivals Fremantle.
Graham will miss the western derby clash against the Dockers at Optus Stadium on Sunday after he sustained a shoulder injury in the Gather Round loss to Geelong at Norwood Oval at the weekend.
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The Richmond premiership star played out the game but was seriously hampered and only did part of the club’s main session with the rest of the group on Wednesday.
Roberston was also a casualty from the clash, having ruptured his ACL which has ruled the former Brisbane midfielder out for the rest of the season.
The 24-year-old went down late in the fourth quarter with scans on Monday revealing the devastating diagnosis for the new Eagle who will now be sidelined until next year at the earliest.
Dual Glendinning-Allan medallist Elliot Yeo will make his return from a groin strain he sustained in the first half of the round three victory against Port Adelaide, while pre-season signing Milan Murdock is also back from injury.
Murdock sustained a minor hamstring injury in the Eagles’ round two victory against North Melbourne last month, halting the incredible start to his career which had him average 19 disposals, eight tackles and two goals as a mature-age recruit.
They are two of five potential inclusions alongside veteran Jamie Cripps who was managed for the defeat to the Cats, as well as axed ruckman Matt Flynn and fringe defender Ryan Maric.
Flynn was dropped ahead of the round six game and replaced by Bailey Williams who was strong in his first game of the season with 20 touches and 35 hit-outs.
Eagles coach Andrew McQualter has a decision around whether he will play two mature ruckman against the Dockers who are likely to hand former Collingwood star Mason Cox a club debut alongside an in-form Luke Jackson.
Or if he continues to back Williams to shoulder the load with draftee Cooper Duff-Tyler and forward-ruck Archer May as back-up.
Draftees Josh Linsday and Duff-Tytler, former Adelaide midfielder Harry Schoenberg and small forward Matt Owies have been named on an extended bench that will be cut to only five on Friday afternoon.
West Coast could field as many as eight derby debutants in the big clash with No.1 draftee Willem Duursma heading the list of players who haven’t taken on the Dockers in thee cross-town rival blockbuster.
Former Richmond backman Tylar Young is among those as well as wingmen Hamish Davis and Bo Allan, who have started their second seasons at the club strongly.
Veteran defender Tom Cole has been overlooked despite being named best-on-ground in the Eagles’ WAFL win against West Perth, while small forward Malakai Champion was also impressive with 18 touches, seven inside 50s and two goals.
Forward Jack Williams is also out of favour, having four goals in an impressive performance.
WEST COAST v FREMANTLE
Sunday, Optus Stadium, 3.10pm
EAGLES
B: L Duggan S Brock R Ginbey
HB: B Hough T Young L Baker
C: T McCarthy E Yeo B Allan
HF: W Duursma A Reid E Hewett
F: M Murdock J Waterman J Shanahan
FOLL: B Williams H Reid T Kelly
I/C: J Linsday J Cripps M Owies C Duff-Tytler R Maric M Flynn H Davis H Schoenberg
IN: E Yeo M Murdock J Cripps R Maric M Flynn
OUT: D Robertson (knee) J Graham (shoulder)
DOCKERS
B: B Cox A Pearce H Chapman
HB: J Clark L Ryan J McVee
C: M Reid A Brayshaw M Johnson
HF: I Dudley J Amiss S Switkowski
F: S Bolton J Treacy P Voss
FOLL: L Jackson C Serong H Young
I/C: M Cox K Worner N Erasmus N O’Driscoll B Walker M Frederick C Wagner C Scerri
IN: H Young M Cox N O’Driscoll B Walker M Frederick
OUT: S Darcy (concussion) J O’Meara (face)
