{"id":6630,"date":"2026-05-07T08:37:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T08:37:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/6630\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T08:37:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T08:37:11","slug":"west-coast-eagles-axe-elijah-hewett-recall-harry-edwards-for-clash-with-melbourne","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/6630\/","title":{"rendered":"West Coast Eagles axe Elijah Hewett, recall Harry Edwards for clash with Melbourne"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">West Coast have lost patience with out-of-form first-round draftee Elijah Hewett as they prepare to welcome back key defender Harry Edwards for their clash against Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE FULL TEAMS<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Hewett is one of three Eagles who have been axed, with forwards Matt Owies and Harry Schoenberg also both sent back to the WAFL after only one game back in the side.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">It comes as Edwards has been named at full-back for his first game since he sustained a second concussion in less than a month early in West Coast\u2019s round two win against North Melbourne.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Edwards is one of five potential inclusions alongside 2024 first-round draftee Bo Allan, forward Jack Williams as well as midfielders Clay Hall, Harvey Johnston and Jack Hutchinson \u2014 who could all play their first games of the season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Hewett has been dropped after struggling in his four appearances this year, averaging only 10 disposals and one clearance after returning to the team in round five loss to Geelong after injuries hindered his start to 2026.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">The 21-year-old is out of contract at the end of this season and is facing a make or break year, having played a career-best 20 games last season after missing all of 2024 with a foot injury.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Owies was recalled for the losss to the previously winless Richmond on the back of five goals in the WAFL, but kicked 1.2 from 12 touches.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Schoenberg also regained his spot after missing the 101-point belting to St Kilda, but failed to fire with only 12 disposals and no tackles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">West Coast have not rested first-year ruckman Cooper Duff-Tytler despite his decreased output in recent weeks, with the teenager to partner Bailey Williams against the formidable Max Gawn and the improved Max Heath.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">It also means leader Matt Flynn will remain on the outer for a fifth-consecutive game.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Defensive recruit Tylar Young has also retained his spot in the team despite The West Australian revealing he had conceded an AFL worst 24 goals from eight games this season, with calls for Rhett Bazzo to get an opportunity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Instead, the Eagles could play forward Williams for his second game of the year after he was dropped following the loss to St Kilda when he had five touches and one behind.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/7f1d0acafd1ad2b088c13d1cdc4430b204392c0d.jpg\" alt=\"Jack Hutchinson lays a heavy tackle at WAFL level.\" class=\"css-16r7l45-StyledImage en5ut4d0\"\/>Camera IconJack Hutchinson lays a heavy tackle at WAFL level. Credit: Sandra Jackson\/The West Australian<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Hutchinson has been among the best in the Eagles\u2019 WAFL side for the past three games after returning from a serious ankle injury over the summer, while Hall has been impressing as a tagger in the reserves.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Allan was controversially dropped for the Tigers\u2019 clash but could get an instant recall, while Johnston is averaging 14 disposals and a goal in his role as a wingman.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Melbourne will be forced to make at least one change with forward Brody Mihocek out with a hamstring injury.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Subiaco-product Luker Kentfield has been named in the extended squad for a potential debut alongside premiership defender Jake Bowey, Peel Thunder defender Jed Adams and Andy Moniz-Wakefield.<\/p>\n<p>Melbourne v West Coast<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Sunday, Marvel Stadium, 11.10am<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">DEMONS<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">B: D Turner J Lever B Howes<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">HB: C Windsor H Petty C Jiath<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">C: K Tholstrup T Sparrow H Sharp<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">HF: E Langdon M Jefferson K Pickett<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">F: L Pickett J van Rooyen B Fritsch<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">FOLL: M Gawn J Steele K Chandler<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">I\/C: H Langford B Laurie J Bowey J Adams M Heath P Cross L Kentfield A Moniz-Wakefield<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">IN: J Bowey J Adams L Kentfield A Moniz-Wakefield<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">OUT: B Mihocek (hamstring)<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">EAGLES<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">B: L Duggan H Edwards R Ginbey<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">HB: B Hough T Young L Baker<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">C: T McCarthy E Yeo R Maric<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">HF: M Murdock J Shanahan W Duursma<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">F: M Champion J Waterman C Duff-Tytler<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">FOLL: B Williams H Reid T Kelly<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">I\/C: J Lindsay H Johnston B Allan T Cole C Hall J Williams H Davis J Hutchinson<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">IN: H Johnston B Allan C Hall J Williams J Hutchinson H Edwards<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1ix6vwn-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">OUT: M Owies (injured), E Hewett H Schoenberg (omitted)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"West Coast have lost patience with out-of-form first-round draftee Elijah Hewett as they prepare to welcome back key&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6631,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[77,260,262,261,516],"class_list":{"0":"post-6630","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-melbourne","8":"tag-afl","9":"tag-melbourne","10":"tag-melbourne-demons","11":"tag-sport","12":"tag-west-coast-eagles"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6630","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6630"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6630\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6631"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6630"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6630"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6630"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}