West Coast Eagles axe Bailey Williams as Matt Flynn recalled to face Adelaide Crows at Optus Stadium | USAEMALL.com

West Coast’s ruck merry-go-round has continued with Bailey Williams dropped for the third time this season as the Eagles prepare to host ladder-leaders Adelaide at Optus Stadium on Sunday.

Williams is one of three changes for bottom-placed Eagles, axed alongside the versatile Tyrell Dewar while 200cm defender Harry Edwards will miss with a foot injury.

Midfielder Jack Graham returns from his four-game suspension for a homophobic slur, while Matt Flynn will replace Williams in the ruck against Crows bigman Reilly O’Brien.

Sandy Brock has also earned a recall as he and third-year backman Reuben Ginbey prepare to tackle Riley Thilthorpe and Darcy Fogarty up forward.

Speaking on Friday morning, Eagles coach Andrew McQualter said they hoped Edwards would be available for their final two games of the season against the Western Bulldogs and Sydney.

“He just wasn’t quite able to get himself up for training this week so it’s frustrating for him,” he said.

“He’s had a bit of a challenging month. He’s been brave and tried to push through. He’s obviously important to us. We made the decision he wasn’t going to be able push through this week.

“We’re hopeful he’ll be able to play the last two games.”

McQualter said he was impressed with Flynn’s response to his axing when he turned out for their WAFL side against East Perth.

“It was tough dropping Flynny last week. He hand’t been in bad form, we chose to make a match-up decision last week,” he said.

“Flynny went back to the WAFL and as a real leader of our football club, he went about it the right way. He competed really hard, it was tough conditions in the WAFL last week in the mud.”

The Crows have also made three changes, recalling Rory Laird, Chris Burgess and Luke Pedlar, with veteran Taylor Walker managed for a second time this season against the Eagles.

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 R Maric T Gross C Hall H Davis

EMG: J Petruccelle B Williams J Williams

IN: S Brock J Graham M Flynn

OUT: H Edwards (foot) T Dewar B Williams (both 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 J Peatling J Soligo

I/C: C Jones Z Taylor S Berry M Hinge L Pedlar

EMG: H Schoenberg J Borlase L Murphy

IN: R Laird C Burgess L Pedlar

OUT: T Walker (managed) B Cook B Smith (both omitted)