Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
West Coast recruit Brandon Starcevich will spend another week building form and fitness in the WAFL after not being named in the extended squad to take on Essendon at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
First-round draftee Cooper Duff-Tytler as well as midfielders Tom Gross and Clay Hall were added to the side which went down to Collingwood by only 10 points last weekend.
Starcevich has not played at the AFL level all this year because of a series of injuries, turning out for their WAFL side on limited minutes in the loss to East Fremantle at the weekend.
The dual premiership Lion is now likely to line up against Peel Thunder at Mineral Resources Park on Sunday, only hours before the Eagles take on the injury-riddled Bombers.
Earlier in the week, Starcevich said he was a “70-30” chance to take on the Bombers.
“I shook the rust off a little bit and found my feet. It was an important part of the return process and I pulled up well,” he told 6PR.
“Obviously, there was some general soreness as you get after a game of footy which was kind of nice, actually. Next week will still be restricted minutes regardless what level, so it just depends on how I’m feeling and what they reckon is the best way to do it.”
Duff-Tytler is a chance to play his first game since the round nine defeat to Melbourne, having been managed before their win against Greater Western Sydney and then overlooked for the clash against the Magpies at the MCG.
Hall and Gross are yet to break into the AFL side at all this season despite strong form in the WAFL, but are in line to pay their first games.
Forward-ruck Archer Reid will also now likely return from a knee injury through the reserves, having been listed as available after not featuring since the round six western derby defeat.
Small forward Tyler Brockman will also turn out for the WAFL side after he recovered from knee injury but will be on restricted minutes given he has not played at all this year.
Essendon have been forced to make a raft of changes after they were smashed by injuries in their disappointing Dreamtime at the ‘G loss to Richmond last week.
Captain Andy McGrath leads the outs with a broken jaw and will be joined on the sidelines Sam Durham (concussion), Jye Caldwell (ankle), Matt Guelfi (hamstring) and Mason Redman (knee).
Injury-riddled first-round draftee Nik Cox leads the list of eight potential inclusions alongside Elijah Tsatas, Will Setterfield, Harrison Jones, Max Kondogiannis, Hussien El Achkar, Jayden Nguyen and Saad El-Hawli.
West Coast v Essendon
Sunday, Optus Stadium, 5.20pm
EAGLES
B: L Duggan R Ginbey B Hough
HB: T McCarthy T Young L Baker
C: H Davis E Yeo B Allan
HF: W Duursma J Shanahan H Johnston
F: M Champion J Waterman M Murdock
FOLL: B Williams H Reid T Kelly
I/C: J Lindsay C Duff-Tytler R Maric T Gross T Cole C Hall R Bazzo J Williams
IN: C Duff-Tytler C Hall T Gross
BOMBERS
B: M Kondogiannis Z Reid J Prior
HB: A Roberts B McKay J Farrow
C: X Duursma D Parish A Day-Wicks
HF: N Cox N Caddy S Robey
F: A May K Langford N Bryan
FOLL: L Blakiston Z Merrett A Perkins
I/C: E Tsatas J Gresham W Setterfield H Jones H El Achkar S El-Hawli J Nguyen T Edwards
IN: M Kondogiannis N Cox E Tsatas W Setterfield H Jones H El Achkar S El-Hawli J Nguyen
OUT: A McGrath (jaw) M Redman (knee) S Durham (concussion) J Caldwell (ankle) M Guelfi (hamstring)
