West Coast Eagles bring back Matt Flynn and Sandy Brock as Adelaide rest veteran star

4 days ago

West Coast have recalled ruckman Matt Flynn after just one game in the reserves as ladder-leaders Adelaide have once again rested veteran Taylor Walker.
The Eagles are to make at least three changes for their clash at Optus Stadium on Sunday, with Flynn, midfielder Jack Graham and defender Sandy Brock named in the starting 18 for the clash against the Crows.
Defender Harry Edwards will miss with a foot injury, while exciting young Eagle Tyrell Dewar has been omitted after playing 15 games this season.
Graham returns for his first game after being suspended for four games for a homophobic slur last month, having been named on the wing.
Brock is set to once again take on Crows forward Darcy Fogarty who he kept to one goal in their previous encounter this year.
Out-of-contract speedster Jack Petruccelle and forward Jack Williams have been named on an extended bench alongside Tyler Brockman, Ryan Maric, Tom Gross, Clay Hall, Bailey Williams and Hamish Davis.
Flynn was dropped after the Eagles' derby defeat, missing the match-up against Melbourne captain and seven-time All-Australian Max Gawn at the weekend.
The 27-year-old responded with 24 disposals, 30 hit-outs and five clearances for the Eagles' WAFL side in their 69-point defeat to East Perth at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Saturday.
Williams' selection comes despite the 21-year-old not kicking a goal from a total of 13 touches in his past two WAFL games.
Dewar got the axe after he was subbed out of the 83-point loss to the Demons with only five touches.
The Crows will leave 35-year-old Walker at home, with the former captain having missed their round 11 encounter. He is now set to play his 300th game in the Crows' first final.
Brayden Cook and Brodie Smith have both been dropped with veteran Rory Laird as well as Chris Burgess, Harry Schoenberg, James Borlase, Lachlan Murphy and Luke Pedlar all named as potential inclusions.
WEST COAST v ADELAIDE
Sunday, Optus Stadium, 3.10pm
EAGLES
B: R Bazzo S Brock T Cole
HB: T McCarthy R Ginbey L Duggan
C: C Chesser T Kelly J Graham
HF: L Baker J Shanahan M Owies
F: L Ryan A Reid J Cripps
FOLL: M Flynn B Hough E Hewett
I/C: T Brockman J Petruccelle R Maric T Gross C Hall B Williams J Williams H Davis
IN: S Brock J Graham M Flynn J Petruccelle J Williams
OUT: H Edwards (foot) T Dewar (omitted)
CROWS
B: J Worrell N Murray H Bond
HB: W Milera M Keane R Laird
C: I Cumming J Dawson D Curtin
HF: B Keays R Thilthorpe A Neal-Bullen
F: I Rankine D Fogarty C Burgess
FOLL: R O'Brien S Berry J Soligo
I/C: C Jones Z Taylor J Peatling M Hinge H Schoenberg J Borlase L Murphy L Pedlar
IN: R Laird C Burgess H Schoenberg J Borlase L Murphy L Pedlar
OUT: T Walker (managed) B Cook B Smith (both omitted)

Hashtags

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Aussie powers Team Penske to IndyCar win in Portland

Perth Now

an hour ago

Perth Now

Aussie powers Team Penske to IndyCar win in Portland

Australian driver Will Power sure is making Team Penske look silly right now. He became the first Penske driver to win an IndyCar race in this comically un-Penske-like season with a commanding victory at Portland International Raceway in Oregon on Sunday (local time). It was fitting that the breakthrough win came from Power, the steadiest of the Penske trio this season. He's ranked sixth in the IndyCar standings, higher than teammates Josef Newgarden and New Zealander Scott McLaughlin. "It's what we expect at that team. I'm driving the best I ever have, simple as that. I'm not slowing down. I am not slower, I am faster," Power declared. "My toolbox is still big as far as understanding the cars, race craft, all that. I guess I'm different to some people. I never stop working at it. It's a passion. I love it. That's why I'm still winning." It's a contract year for the Australian, who has given no indication the team has shown any movement towards extending Power into next year, despite his long history with the team, years of winning, and his showing as arguably the best of the Penske drivers this year. Power, who turned 44 this year, has been with Penske since 2009 and won an Indianapolis 500 and two IndyCar titles. His 45 career wins rank fourth on the all-time list. He also holds the record for the most pole positions in series history with 71. Power won three races a year ago and was in the championship fight until the finale. His Portland win is his second straight in Oregon and has him as the highest-ranked Penske driver. He said the win is a statement to both Penske and any other interested teams, but he was adamant he's got nothing to prove. "It's probably good on both fronts," Power said. "I mean, I won three races last year. If you're a team, if you're waiting on me to know if I'm good enough, I don't know what you're thinking. If you're actually waiting, (thinking) 'I'm not sure if this guy is good enough,' just go back to last year and you'll (expletive) know." Penske Racing president Jonathan Diuguid stayed away from commenting directly on Power's future as he celebrated his first win in his new role. "Will's future is about 30 minutes old from winning a race. His future's definitely bright," Diuguid said. "He did an amazing job today. Looking forward to the last two races of the season." Meanwhile, Spaniard Alex Palou wrapped up his fourth IndyCar championship in the past five seasons on Sunday when title contender Pato O'Ward lost power early in the race. O'Ward started from pole and was the only driver mathematically able to beat Palou for the championship. The Astor Cup became Palou's just 22 laps into the race when O'Ward had an electronic issue on his Arrow McLaren Chevrolet and had to make an unplanned pit stop. He returned to the track down nine laps from the leaders. Palou finished third and O'Ward 25th, clinching the title for the Spaniard with two races left in the season.