Jayden Hunt on the outer as Eagles turn to youth
Champion, who came through West Coast's Next Generation academy program, will make his debut as the sub in Friday night's clash with GWS at Optus Stadium.
The 19-year-old has kicked seven goals in 11 WAFL Eagles games this year, with his defensive pressure highlighted by an 11-tackle effort against Peel recently.
Champion's debut comes just a week after West Coast unveiled swingman Jobe Shanahan, who impressed with a goal and three marks from eight disposals in a 29-point loss to Collingwood.
The recent retirements of Jeremy McGovern (concussion) and grand final hero Dom Sheed (knee) - plus injuries to Elliot Yeo, Oscar Allen and Jake Waterman - have further accelerated West Coast's move to generation next.
Jamie Cripps, Allen, Hunt, Campbell Chesser, Jack Petruccelle and Tom Cole are among the more notable names who are coming out of contract at the end of this season.
Allen is being widely tipped to join either Brisbane or Hawthorn as a restricted free agent, but the rest of the players mentioned face a nervous wait to see if they will be offered a new deal.
It means Hunt's dramatic drop in form has come at the worst possible time, with the former Demon to be axed for the clash with GWS.
The 30-year-old tallied just one disposal from 14 per cent playing time as the sub last Saturday, which followed on from a two-disposal effort a week earlier against Carlton.
"Form can get everyone at different times," Eagles coach Andrew McQualter said.
"We're going to send Hunty back (to the WAFL) and build his game again, like we've done with other players this year."
McQualter praised Malakai for his rapid progress this year.
And with the likes of Harley Reid, Bo Allan, Tyrell Dewar, Reuben Ginbey, Tom Gross, Clay Hall, Elijah Hewett, Sandy Brock, Archer Reid, Jack Williams, Shanahan and Tom McCarthy either having already made their mark or shown flashes of their potential, there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel in West Coast's rebuild.
GWS (9-6) beat West Coast by 81 points earlier this year and will be aiming to post another percentage-boosting win.
West Coast will unleash small forward Malakai Champion as their eighth debutant of the year, but the AFL career of Jayden Hunt is on thin ice.
Champion, who came through West Coast's Next Generation academy program, will make his debut as the sub in Friday night's clash with GWS at Optus Stadium.
The 19-year-old has kicked seven goals in 11 WAFL Eagles games this year, with his defensive pressure highlighted by an 11-tackle effort against Peel recently.
Champion's debut comes just a week after West Coast unveiled swingman Jobe Shanahan, who impressed with a goal and three marks from eight disposals in a 29-point loss to Collingwood.
The recent retirements of Jeremy McGovern (concussion) and grand final hero Dom Sheed (knee) - plus injuries to Elliot Yeo, Oscar Allen and Jake Waterman - have further accelerated West Coast's move to generation next.
Jamie Cripps, Allen, Hunt, Campbell Chesser, Jack Petruccelle and Tom Cole are among the more notable names who are coming out of contract at the end of this season.
Allen is being widely tipped to join either Brisbane or Hawthorn as a restricted free agent, but the rest of the players mentioned face a nervous wait to see if they will be offered a new deal.
It means Hunt's dramatic drop in form has come at the worst possible time, with the former Demon to be axed for the clash with GWS.
The 30-year-old tallied just one disposal from 14 per cent playing time as the sub last Saturday, which followed on from a two-disposal effort a week earlier against Carlton.
"Form can get everyone at different times," Eagles coach Andrew McQualter said.
"We're going to send Hunty back (to the WAFL) and build his game again, like we've done with other players this year."
McQualter praised Malakai for his rapid progress this year.
And with the likes of Harley Reid, Bo Allan, Tyrell Dewar, Reuben Ginbey, Tom Gross, Clay Hall, Elijah Hewett, Sandy Brock, Archer Reid, Jack Williams, Shanahan and Tom McCarthy either having already made their mark or shown flashes of their potential, there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel in West Coast's rebuild.
GWS (9-6) beat West Coast by 81 points earlier this year and will be aiming to post another percentage-boosting win.
West Coast will unleash small forward Malakai Champion as their eighth debutant of the year, but the AFL career of Jayden Hunt is on thin ice.
Champion, who came through West Coast's Next Generation academy program, will make his debut as the sub in Friday night's clash with GWS at Optus Stadium.
The 19-year-old has kicked seven goals in 11 WAFL Eagles games this year, with his defensive pressure highlighted by an 11-tackle effort against Peel recently.
Champion's debut comes just a week after West Coast unveiled swingman Jobe Shanahan, who impressed with a goal and three marks from eight disposals in a 29-point loss to Collingwood.
The recent retirements of Jeremy McGovern (concussion) and grand final hero Dom Sheed (knee) - plus injuries to Elliot Yeo, Oscar Allen and Jake Waterman - have further accelerated West Coast's move to generation next.
Jamie Cripps, Allen, Hunt, Campbell Chesser, Jack Petruccelle and Tom Cole are among the more notable names who are coming out of contract at the end of this season.
Allen is being widely tipped to join either Brisbane or Hawthorn as a restricted free agent, but the rest of the players mentioned face a nervous wait to see if they will be offered a new deal.
It means Hunt's dramatic drop in form has come at the worst possible time, with the former Demon to be axed for the clash with GWS.
The 30-year-old tallied just one disposal from 14 per cent playing time as the sub last Saturday, which followed on from a two-disposal effort a week earlier against Carlton.
"Form can get everyone at different times," Eagles coach Andrew McQualter said.
"We're going to send Hunty back (to the WAFL) and build his game again, like we've done with other players this year."
McQualter praised Malakai for his rapid progress this year.
And with the likes of Harley Reid, Bo Allan, Tyrell Dewar, Reuben Ginbey, Tom Gross, Clay Hall, Elijah Hewett, Sandy Brock, Archer Reid, Jack Williams, Shanahan and Tom McCarthy either having already made their mark or shown flashes of their potential, there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel in West Coast's rebuild.
GWS (9-6) beat West Coast by 81 points earlier this year and will be aiming to post another percentage-boosting win.
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It brings an end to a glittering 239-game AFL career that featured 365 goals and countless highlights. The 34-year-old underwent knee surgery during the summer, made it back to appear for the Indigenous All Stars and a Dockers pre-season match, before being sidelined again. Walters made his comeback on limited minutes via the WAFL last month, but the writing was on the wall when he pulled up sore from that match and was unable to back it up. "I never left a stone unturned, I tried to return and play again at the top level and it just didn't work out." Fremantle (10-5) sit just half a game adrift of second spot, putting them in a strong position to challenge for this year's flag. "I reckon they can go all the way if they stay in the moment," Walters told the media on Thursday afternoon. "This group is a mature group, they've got the right coaching staff and everyone around them, with the right leaders." Earlier in the day, Walters let his emotions flow as he addressed his teammates - and he used the moment to ask them for one final favour. "It's been a hard year for myself personally," a tearful Walters said. "But you guys made it so much easier. I'm going to miss the coffee yarns, just the hanging out and FaceTime calls. "I've been around the game a long time, and I'm going to miss that the most - hanging out with you guys each and every day. "I want you guys to promise me one thing. When you do win that premiership, let me drink a can of Jacks (Jack Daniel's) out of that cup." With Walters' future now determined, more attention will turn to fellow veteran Nat Fyfe. Fyfe, who also underwent knee surgery over the summer, missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury. The 33-year-old made a successful comeback last month, but he will now miss the next two to four weeks after injuring his calf while warming up as the sub during last week's 12-point win over St Kilda. Walters, selected with pick No.53 in the 2008 national draft, won Fremantle's goalkicking award across five separate seasons and will go down as one of the club's best ever forwards. Retiring veteran Michael Walters reckons Fremantle can win the AFL flag as early as this year and he's made his teammates promise to let him be part of the premiership celebrations. Walters fought back tears on Thursday when he fronted the player group to inform them of his retirement, effective immediately, due to an ongoing knee injury. It brings an end to a glittering 239-game AFL career that featured 365 goals and countless highlights. The 34-year-old underwent knee surgery during the summer, made it back to appear for the Indigenous All Stars and a Dockers pre-season match, before being sidelined again. Walters made his comeback on limited minutes via the WAFL last month, but the writing was on the wall when he pulled up sore from that match and was unable to back it up. "I never left a stone unturned, I tried to return and play again at the top level and it just didn't work out." Fremantle (10-5) sit just half a game adrift of second spot, putting them in a strong position to challenge for this year's flag. "I reckon they can go all the way if they stay in the moment," Walters told the media on Thursday afternoon. "This group is a mature group, they've got the right coaching staff and everyone around them, with the right leaders." Earlier in the day, Walters let his emotions flow as he addressed his teammates - and he used the moment to ask them for one final favour. "It's been a hard year for myself personally," a tearful Walters said. "But you guys made it so much easier. I'm going to miss the coffee yarns, just the hanging out and FaceTime calls. "I've been around the game a long time, and I'm going to miss that the most - hanging out with you guys each and every day. "I want you guys to promise me one thing. When you do win that premiership, let me drink a can of Jacks (Jack Daniel's) out of that cup." With Walters' future now determined, more attention will turn to fellow veteran Nat Fyfe. Fyfe, who also underwent knee surgery over the summer, missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury. The 33-year-old made a successful comeback last month, but he will now miss the next two to four weeks after injuring his calf while warming up as the sub during last week's 12-point win over St Kilda. Walters, selected with pick No.53 in the 2008 national draft, won Fremantle's goalkicking award across five separate seasons and will go down as one of the club's best ever forwards.
