West Coast coach Andrew McQualter is overseeing a changing of the guard in the Eagles’ midfield, turning to youth as he looks to fix their clearance woes for the long-term.
In the matter of only five games McQualter has overhauled the centre bounce structure, blooding a new era as he stamps his mark at the club.
The Eagles started the year with a Jack Graham, Tim Kelly, Harley Reid and co-captain Liam Duggan as their go-to midfield.
But against Carlton on Saturday, it was a young mix dominated by Jack Hutchinson, Tom Gross and Clay Hall who have all played less than 10 games but are entrusted to play at the coalface.
Even defender Brady Hough went in there seven times in the second half as McQualter continues to test the versatility of his squad.
It was vastly different from pre-season plans for McQualter, with a mix of injuries and poor form from senior players forcing a re-think.
Elliot Yeo is yet to play this game because a pre-season ankle and knee injury and isn’t set to be back until mid-season, stripping the Eagles of their best contested beast.
And their second-best midfielder in Kelly has been dropped to the WAFL for the first time in his 100-game after struggling to start the season.
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