West Coast have backed draftee Cooper Duff-Tytler to partner Bailey Williams in the ruck against Fremantle stars Luke Jackson and Maxon Cox in the blockbuster western derby on Sunday.
The Eagles have dropped out of form small forward Matt Owies as part of three changes to the side, with premiership pair Jamie Cripps and Elliot Yeo returning alongside pre-season signing Milan Murdock.
However, veteran ruckman Matt Flynn has been overlooked and will be an emergency alongside Owies and defender Ryan Maric despite Andrew McQualter’s young side facing a tough task in the ruck.
Fremantle have dropped pre-season signing Chris Scerri after he had only seven handballs against Collingwood, with Cox, Hayden Young and Michael Frederick named after their inclusion was confirmed by coach Justin Longmuir earlier in the day.
Duff-Tytler is set to go to battle against fellow athletic ruckman Jackson as one of eight derby debutants for the Eagles alongside fellow draftees Josh Lindsay and Willem Duursma as well as Tylar Young, Harry Schoenberg, Hamish Davis, Bo Allan and Murdock.
The teenager had only three touches and four hit-outs in the Gather Round loss to Geelong but will now have to back up Williams alongside third-year Eagle Archer Reid.
Owies has made way for the return of veteran Cripps, who missed was managed for the Norwood clash against the Cats.
The former Carlton small forward kicked only one goal and had 12 disposals across his two AFL appearances so far this year, joining injured duo Deven Robertson (ACL) and Jack Graham (shoulder) out of the side.
Yeo returns for his first game since round three after overcoming a groin issue, while Murdock hasn’t played since the round two victory against North Melbourne because of a hamstring strain.
Fremantle have made three changes with Scerri coming out of the side alongside injured ruckman Sean Darcy (concussion) and veteran midfielder Jaeger O’Meara (face).
Frederick will play his first game of the season after overcoming an ankle injury, while Young comes in for his first appearance since round one after he sustained a hamstring setback.
Cox will play his first game for the Dockers after signing a two-year rookie deal to join the club last year, having played 139 games for Collingwood, including the 2023 premiership.
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 C Duff-Tytler H Davis H Schoenberg
EMG: R Maric M Flynn M Owies
IN: E Yeo M Murdock J Cripps
OUT: D Robertson (knee) J Graham (shoulder) M Owies (omitted)
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 M Frederick C Wagner
EMG: N O’Driscoll B Walker C Scerri
IN: H Young M Cox M Frederick
OUT: S Darcy (concussion) J O’Meara (face) C Scerri (omitted)