West Coast Eagles incorporate Harvey Johnston and another standout player into the expanded bench for their Round 3 clash against the Bulldogs.
West Coast Eagles may introduce another newcomer for Sunday’s showdown against the Western Bulldogs, as rookie Harvey Johnston is included in an expanded lineup as the Eagles seek their inaugural victory.
In round one, the Eagles introduced Harley Reid for his debut, and last week saw ruckman Harry Barnett initiate a match for the first time in the loss to GWS.
Now, Johnston finds himself in the 26-player roster ahead of Sunday’s encounter at Marvel Stadium, with the final selection to be announced by Friday afternoon.
Johnston, a versatile midfielder-forward, showcased his skills on the wing with two goals during last weekend’s WAFL scratch match against Subiaco. He was recruited from Sandringham in last year’s draft.
He joins seasoned wingman Andrew Gaff and versatile tall Jack Williams as additions to the extended squad, with Gaff bouncing back from his absence in round one with a promising performance in the WAFL practice game last weekend.
Harvey Johnston, a rising talent.
Harvey Johnston. Credit: Kelsey Reid/The West Australian
There are no exclusions for West Coast at this point, with Tyler Brockman, Luke Edwards, Campbell Chesser, and last week’s starting substitute Ryan Maric joining Barnett on the expanded bench.
In a reversal from last week’s extended interchange listing, Jack Darling has been designated as the full-forward, reaffirming his role as the veteran spearhead for the Eagles despite a challenging start to the season.
This decision coincides with West Coast revealing that young defender Coby Burgiel, who displayed promising form in the WAFL practice match last week, will be sidelined for several weeks following an appendectomy on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are set to make at least two changes, with defensive duo Ed Richards and Nick Coffield ruled out due to injuries sustained in last week’s victory over Gold Coast.
Taylor Duryea is poised to step in, with Rory Lobb, Jack Macrae, Riley Garcia, and James O’Donnell all potential inclusions.
EAGLES LINE-UP
B: C Jamieson, T Barrass, T Cole
HB: B Hough, J McGovern, J Jones
C: L Duggan, T Kelly, J Hunt
HF: H Reid, J Waterman, N Long
F: J Petruccelle, J Darling, J Cripps
R: B Williams, E Yeo, R Ginbey
Interchange from: A Gaff, T Brockman, L Edwards, C Chesser, H Johnston, H Barnett, J Williams, R Maric
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West Coast Eagles’ Rising Star Reuben Ginbey Confident Amid Challenges, Foresees Team’s Resurgence
West Coast’s period of rebuilding won’t be prolonged, asserts emerging midfield sensation Reuben Ginbey, as the Eagles are resolute in their aim to swiftly reclaim a top-eight position.
Despite starting their AFL season with significant defeats against Port Adelaide and Greater Western Sydney, the West Australian team is widely expected to face another challenging season, potentially securing their second consecutive wooden spoon.
Amidst this adversity, West Coast has welcomed a cadre of promising talents including Ginbey, Harley Reid, Elijah Hewett, Campbell Chesser, Brady Hough, Ryan Maric, Noah Long, and Clay Hall in the past three years, marking it as the most extensive rebuild in the club’s history.
While acknowledging that more challenges lie ahead, Ginbey remains steadfast in his commitment to hasten the Eagles’ return to success.
“We understand that progress may not happen overnight, but it’s inevitable at some point. We’re actively working towards it,” he remarked.
“Our goal is to elevate ourselves into the top eight as swiftly as we can.
“While we’re acknowledging the small victories along the way, our ultimate aim is to secure significant wins and emerge victorious on the field.
“We’re absolutely committed to achieving that.”
West Coast midfielder Reuben Ginbey expressed these sentiments.
The Eagles will be aiming to secure their first victory of the season when they face the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
This matchup recalls last year’s memorable round-23 clash, where West Coast surprised the Bulldogs with a seven-point win on their home turf, a result that ultimately denied the Bulldogs a finals berth.
Heading into the game on the back of an impressive 48-point win over Gold Coast, Luke Beveridge’s side poses a formidable challenge.
Despite West Coast’s recent 65-point loss to GWS, there were positives, particularly in the form of Elliot Yeo, who amassed 19 disposals and seven clearances in the first half alone.
“It’s fantastic to have Yeo fully fit,” remarked Ginbey. “His strength, power, and agility are invaluable assets to the team. He was exceptional.
“Having a dominant presence like him around the ball provides us younger players with a lot of confidence, knowing he has our backs.”
Ginbey achieved a career-high 22 disposals against the Giants, along with four clearances and five tackles.
The 19-year-old primarily served as a tagger in his debut season last year but is relishing his role as a more attacking midfielder in 2024.
“I’m feeling more confident and stronger this year, both physically and mentally,” Ginbey said. “I’ve been able to maintain my performance throughout games.
“Last year, my focus was mainly defensive, shadowing the opposition’s key players. However, this year, I’m aiming to develop a more aggressive playing style.”
While West Coast’s premiership stars Liam Ryan (hamstring) and Dom Sheed (foot) are nearing a return, forwards Oscar Allen (knee, 8-10 weeks), Elijah Hewett (foot, post-bye), and ruckman Matt Flynn (hamstring, 6-8 weeks) are still some time away from contention.
