West Coast welcome back Elijah Hewett as the Eagles weigh up playing two rucks for Geelong clash

West Coast could pull a selection shock and play two ruckmen in their bumper Gather Round clash against Geelong.

It comes as luckless midfielder Elijah Hewett will play his first game of the season on Sunday after premiership duo Elliot Yeo and Jamie Cripps were left in Perth.

The Eagles have named both under-fire incumbent Matt Flynn as well as fellow ruck Bailey Williams in the 26-man squad to take on last year’s grand finalists at Norwood Oval on Sunday.

Hewett has been named on a half forward flank for his first game for his first game since round 24 last year, while recruit Deven Robertson will return after he served his one-match suspension.

Defender Ryan Maric joins Williams on an extended bench that includes under pressure forward Matt Owies, draftees Josh Lindsay and Cooper Duff-Tytler as well as Tom McCarthy, Malakai Champion and Hamish Davis.

Yeo was still not deemed fit to play as he overcomes a groin injury he sustained late last month, while Cripps, 33, has been rested having gone goalless in the 128-point defeat to Sydney at the weekend.

Geelong have also rested a veteran with Mark Blicavs not making the trip to South Australia as he closes in on game 300 for the Cats.

The Cats have named four potential inclusions in former Hawthorn midfielder James Worpel as well as Mitch Knevitt, Jake Kolodjashnij and Mark O’Connor.

Geelong v West Coast

Sunday, Norwood Oval, 10.30am

CATS

B: S De Koning J Henry C O’Sullivan

HB: L Humphries T Stewart O Mullin

C: J Bowes B Smith O Dempsey

HF: S Mannagh S Neale B Close

F: J Martin J Cameron O Henry

FOLL: M Edwards T Atkins M Holmes

I/C: Z Guthrie J Kolodjashnij M O’Connor T Bruhn G Miers O Wiltshire J Worpel M Knevitt

IN: J Kolodjashnij M O’Connor J Worpel M Knevitt

OUT: M Blicavs (managed)

EAGLES

B: L Duggan T Young R Ginbey

HB: B Hough S Brock L Baker

C: W Duursma J Graham B Allan

HF: T Kelly A Reid E Hewett

F: H Schoenberg J Waterman J Shanahan

FOLL: M Flynn H Reid D Robertson

I/C: J Linsday M Owies T McCarthy C Duff-Tytler R Maric B Williams M Champion H Davis

IN: E Hewett B Williams D Robertson R Maric

OUT: J Cripps (managed)