West Coast names 27-player squad for pre-season match against Fremantle, Jeremy McGovern and Tyler Brockman managed

Fremantle fans will get their first look at a new derby nemesis when Harley Reid debuts for the Eagles, but star defender Jeremy McGovern has been left out. MARK DUFFIELD explains why.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 05: Jeremy McGovern of the Eagles looks dejected after the Eagles were defeated by the Bombers during the round 21 AFL match between Essendon Bombers and West Coast Eagles at Marvel Stadium, on August 05, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

West Coast will put number one draft pick Harley Reid on show against an AFL rival for the first time but have injury-prone defender Jeremy McGovern in cotton wool, resting him from the club’s first interclub practice match against Fremantle at Mineral Resources Park.

Reid was one of 27 Eagles named for the match practice which will be played over seven periods on Saturday evening.

It is expected the first four periods will feature contenders for AFL berths in round one with a further three played by back-up players.

The Eagles have taken a safety first approach with the experienced McGovern.

Recruit Tyler Brockman has also been rested from the match after experiencing knee soreness and being eased out of training during the week.

The Eagles are ready to unleash Harley Reid.

West Coast, decimated by injury over the past two seasons which have produced just five wins from 45 matches, have trained harder but have also been quick to pull players out of training and games this pre-season in a bid to prevent the carnage of the last two years.

But there will be concerns about the 31-year-old four time All-Australian defender McGovern. He had only played two periods of match simulation last Saturday when he developed groin soreness.

He trained lightly this week but will not be risked against a strong Fremantle line up.

West Coast will take no risks with injury-prone defender Jeremy McGovern. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

McGovern has been increasingly absent over the past four seasons.

He missed six games in 2020, seven in 2021, 12 in 2022 and 14 of the club’s 23 games in 2023 after suffering a serious hamstring injury in the round three Western Derby loss to Fremantle. He didn’t play again until round 17.

The intercept defender has played just 46 of West Coast’s last 85 matches.

In the summer, the Eagles sent McGovern, the equally injury prone midfielder Elliot Yeo and young defender Harry Edwards to Qatar to seek improved durability and all three have been on specialised training programs since their return.

Elliot Yeo is heading back into the Eagles midfield. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Coach Adam Simpson has flagged the possibility of Yeo making a permanent return to the midfield in 2024 after last year all but conceding that his body might only allow him to play cameo roles in the engine room with respite at half back.

Edwards broke a finger last weekend in match simulation and required surgery. He would have been the first player asked to step into a tall defender’s role if McGovern is not ready to play in round one.

Reid sparkled during last weekend’s match simulation and is expected to play a mix of midfield and half back roles.

Third-year player Campbell Chesser, a first-round draft pick in 2021, was also impressive in the match and is a strong chance to get a run with the A team in this game with Brockman absent.

The match shapes as a stern challenge for the Eagles.

Fremantle, which named 40 listed players to play over the seven periods, will miss only Brennan Cox and Heath Chapman from their first choice line up. The Eagles will be without McGovern (groin), Brockman (knee), Liam Ryan (hamstring), Jack Darling (Hamstring), Dom Sheed (foot) and Elijah Hewett (foot).

Originally published as West Coast names 27-player squad for pre-season match against Fremantle, Jeremy McGovern and Tyler Brockman managed