West Coast have entered into a period of transition in 2023 after a nightmare year, combining a horror run of injuries and the impact of COVID-19 decimating their ranks in the first half of the season.
As a result, the Eagles are tough to pick in 2023, given their long list of players who are in contention who were unavailable due to injury last year, including Oscar Allen, Dom Sheed, Tom Cole, Jeremy McGovern, Luke Shuey, Nic Naitanui and Elliot Yeo to name a few.
There’s a few departures, led by retiring duo Josh Kennedy and Jack Redden while Junior Rioli exited for Port Adelaide.
On the flipside, there’s a fresh influx from the 2022 draft cohort headlined by Reuben Ginbey and Elijah Hewett, with dashing defender/wingman Jayden Hunt joining via free agency from Melbourne.
Honeyball founder and WA-based afl.com.au reporter Ben Somerford takes a look at the Eagles’ line-up for Round 1 in 2023.
Defence
Given West Coast’s 2022 injuries, it’s tough to call this backline, but expect Yeo, Ginbey and Shuey to run through half-back and the midfield. Cole’s ankle concern in pre-season means he’ll probably miss out, but he looms as West Coast’s best lockdown small defender. Alex Witherden may be squeezed out too, with Shannon Hurn hanging around.
| Shannon Hurn | Tom Barrass | Jayden Hunt |
| Liam Duggan | Jeremy McGovern | Elliot Yeo |
Midfield
The return to fitness of Sheed bolsters West Coast’s midfield and he’ll slot in to centre bounces, alongside Tim Kelly and Shuey, with Jai Culley, Yeo and potentially Ginbey rotating through. Redden’s retirement has opened up some opportunities for those aforementioned youngsters.
Xavier O’Neill, Connor West, Luke Edwards and Greg Clark are among those in the mix too.
| Andrew Gaff | Tim Kelly | Brady Hough |
| Nic Naitanui | Dom Sheed | Luke Shuey |
Forward
Allen is likely to be fit for Round 1, slotting into Kennedy’s vacated role. Coach Adam Simpson has said Allen won’t play as a back-up ruckman but will take hit-outs inside the forward 50.
Noah Long is a bolter into the forward set-up with a hole after Rioli’s move to Port Adelaide along with an injury concern for Jack Petruccelle in pre-season. Samo Petrevski-Seton and Jamaine Jones have also been training forward in pre-season and could take that spot, so that’s definitely no certainty.
| Jake Waterman | Jack Darling | Jamie Cripps |
| Noah Long | Oscar Allen | Liam Ryan |
Bench
Allen’s role as pure forward means the Eagles will need a second ruck on the bench, with Naitanui usually only playing around 60-65% gametime, which will likely be Bailey Williams, but he really needs to improve in 2023. The other option is Callum Jamieson who is a bit raw and inflexible, but that does loom as a problem position for West Coast, who don’t want to use Allen or Jeremy McGovern as a pinch-hitting ruckman.
Culley can rotate through the mids, along with Ginbey who offers flexibility in defence too. Likewise, Jones can be their seventh forward, but also add run off half-back, like last season, or even midfield. His flexibility earns him the nod ahead of Petrevski-Seton. Petruccelle would likely be ahead of him, pending fitness. Hewett has impressed in pre-season but may need to settle for the sub role, but there are a few options.
| Jai Culley | Reuben Ginbey | Jamaine Jones |
| Bailey Williams | Elijah Hewett (Sub) |
Pushing selection: Witherden is probably the unluckiest to miss out, while Cole and Petruccelle’s inclusions will come down to being injury free and fully match fit. O’Neill is probably the next mid in line to step into the 22.
Simpson has said West Coast won’t rush talented 2021 first-round Draft pick Campbell Chesser in for Round 1 after injuries, but keep an eye on his progress as he’ll likely come into the side at some point in the first half of the season.
View Fremantle’s predicted Round 1 line-up
