West Coast’s hopes of ending a four-game losing streak to Mineral Resources Park co-tenants Perth have been hindered by the loss of a handful of AFL-listed players for Sunday’s game.
The Eagles are in contention for only their second WAFL finals campaign but will be without first-round draftee Josh Lindsay (quad) as well as small forwards Tyler Brockman (hamstring), Malakai Champion (hand), Harvey Johnston (AFL) and ruckman Harry Barnett (groin soreness).
It comes as they look to beat Perth — who will be known as Boorloo for the next two rounds as part of NAIDOC Week — for the first time since they claimed a thrilling two-point victory in Northam back in round nine of 2024.
However, a win against last year’s semi-finalists would be a big boost to West Coast’s hopes of returning to post-season action for the first time since their maiden WAFL campaign in 2019.
After missing the 2020 season because of COVID, the Eagles have claimed five consecutive wooden spoons, winning only 11 of 90 games in that span in a disastrous period for the side.
However, 2026 looks promising under third-year coach Kyal Horsley, with the outfit sitting just outside the top five with a 6-6 record.
A loss to the Demons though, who are desperate to cement themselves in the top five as soon as possible, would be a big blow to their chances of making the finals.
The Eagles have brought in Josh Burke, Sam Cipriani, Corey Hitchcock, Sasha Kernutt and Jack Walsh for the game, leaving them with only 14 AFL-listed players.
Meanwhile, the Demons have welcomed back star forward-ruck Blake Schlensog for his first game of the year after recovering from calf issues which have plagued him since pre-season.
Star recruit Jack Kluske also returns after missing the 51-point loss to East Perth because of personal reasons, while backman-turned-forward Kane Johnston has overcome a minor hamstring issue which had him as a late omission last weekend to take his place in the side.
Noah Cachard, Freddy Brayshaw, Jesse Glass-McCasker and Archer Gardiner have all been dropped in the wake of the disappointing defeat.
Camera IconPerth forward-ruck Blake Schlensog is back for his first game of the season for the Demons. Credit: Michael Wilson/The West Australian
In bad news for the Demons, recruit Indhi Kirk’s season is over with a stress fracture in his back which has compounded a groin injury he’d already sustained.
The son of Sydney Swans champion Brett Kirk has returned to Sydney for treatment but is expected to be back in the WAFL next year.
SUNDAY TEAMS
West Coast v Perth
Sunday, Mineral Resources Park, 1.10pm
EAGLES
B: C Datson S Brock J Miles-Wrency
HB: F Rodriguez J Ewing L Grego
C: R Maric H Schoenberg C Hall
HF: T Williams T Dewar T Gross
F: S Cipriani C Jamieson M Owies
FOLL: M Flynn E Hewett F Macrae
I/C: J Burke T Edwards-Baldwin C Hitchcock S Kernutt J Walsh
EMG: A Mercer M Mumme J Prior
IN: J Burke S Cipriani C Hitchcock S Kernutt J Walsh
OUT: T Brockman (hamstring) M Champion (hand) H Johnston (AFL) J Lindsay (quad) H Barnett (groin)
DEMONS
B: M Taylor C Dean C Sing
HB: B Philip B Schlensog O Hine-Baston
C: J Watson C Constable A Davis
HF: C Byrne A Clarke J Kluske
F: J Preston-Coates K Johnston R Wills
FOLL: J Edwards W Tilbee B Parfitt
I/C: Z Fleiner L Hallett Z Harding C Moore L Paton
EMG: N Cachard A Gardiner J Glass-McCasker J Roberts
IN: K Johnston B Schlensog J Kluske Z Fleiner
OUT: N Cachard F Brayshaw A Gardiner J Glass-McCasker (all omitted)