One top pick out, one top pick in! Chesser set for return
It comes as the Eagles prepare to take on seven-time All-Australian ruckman Matt Gawn without their No.1 man Matt Flynn who has been dropped leaving Bailey Williams as the solo ruck.
The West Australian revealed Chesser would be named in Saturday's line-up to take on the Demons, having featured in the past seven games for the club's WAFL outfit after an ankle injury in February hindered his start to the season.
Chesser had 20 disposals in Sunday's defeat to Peel to put his hand up for his first senior game this season.
After being West Coast's top draft selection at pick 14 in 2021, Chesser has been luckless throughout his career at West Coast, playing only 32 games in his four seasons.
The 22-year-old midfielder last featured at AFL level in round 24 last year. Chesser's most recent AFL win — and one of only six for his career — came against Melbourne at Optus Stadium last May.
'He's had some challenging years and he's been able to build a platform of eight or 10 games of WAFL football and given himself a chance to finish off the year really strongly so yeah, he gets his opportunity,' Eagles coach Andrew McQualter said. Chesser in action last season. Credit: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images
'There was a period where he just had to play, that was important for him just to string some games together. And then, you know, when he started mid-year, he hadn't played under the way that we're playing our wing roll at the moment.
'So he's learnt that, he's improved in that understanding of the game, and it was a bit about continuity and then building up his form from there.'
It comes as top draftee Tom Gross is also set to return to the side to help cover the loss of superstar Harley Reid after his season was ended by a syndesmosis injury he sustained in the western derby.
Gross has played six games since he was drafted with pick No.46 last season, with the last of those coming in the round 11 defeat to Adelaide.
The 18-year-old is coming off a strong game in the WAFL, kicking two goals from 23 disposals as well as recording five clearances in the loss to Peel.
Chesser's pending inclusion means the Eagles will have used 37 players this year. Just three players on West Coast's list are yet to debut at the top level: Lucca Grego, Coen Livingstone and mid-season draftee Jacob Newton.
He was joined on the plane by out-of-contract pair Jack Petruccelle and Loch Rawlinson however, both have been named as emergencies.
Instead, Hamish Davis and 200cm defender Harry Edwards, who was a late out from the derby on Saturday because of a hamstring concern, have returned to the line-up. Jack Petruccelle is back in the Eagles squad. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The West Australian
It will be Davis' first game since round seven while defender, Sandy Brock and Jack Hutchinson, join Reid out of the team that lost the western derby to Fremantle.
WEST COAST v MELBOURNE
Saturday, Marvel, 11.20am
EAGLES
B: R Ginbey H Edwards T Cole
HB: L Duggan R Bazzo T McCarthy
C: R Maric B Hough C Hall'
HF: J Cripps J Shanahan E Hewett
F: T Borckman A Reid L Ryan
FOLL: B Williams T Kelly L Baker
I/C: M Owies C Chesser T Gross H Davis T Dewar
EMG: J Petruccelle M Flynn L Rawlinson
IN: H Edwards C Chesser T Gross H Davis
OUT: S Brock (omitted) J Hutchinson (omitted) M Flynn (omitted) H Reid (injured)
DEMONS
B: J Bowey T McDonald J McVee
HB: C Windsor D Turner B Howes
C: K Chandler C Petracca H Langford
HF: J Viney B Fritsch T Sparrow
F: J Melksham H Petty K Pickett
FOLL: M Gawn T Rivers E Langdon
I/C: J van Rooyen C Salem C Oliver H Sharp J Culley
EMG: X Lindsay J Adams T Campbell
IN: H Sharp J Culley
OUT: X Lindsay (managed) C Spargo (omitted)
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