AFL finals: Luke Shuey will lead West Coast against Collingwood

A convocation of premiership Eagles led by captain Luke Shuey have returned from injury to bolster West Coast’s title tilt.

Jeremy McGovern, left, returns for West Coast to face Collingwood. Picture: Michael Klein

A convocation of premiership Eagles led by captain Luke Shuey has returned from injury to bolster West Coast’s bid to win a second flag in three years over the next month.

Jeremy McGovern, a four-time All Australian, along with Jack Redden and Jamie Cripps, will resume in the elimination final against Collingwood at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.

In a further boost for West Coast, coach Adam Simpson is confident in the fitness of dual-Coleman Medallist Josh Kennedy despite the Eagles star limping from the field against North Melbourne a fortnight ago.

Watch the 2020 Toyota AFL Finals Series on Kayo with every game before the Grand Final Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

“It was a pretty bad roll, but nothing long term, and we’ve just given him every chance to recover,” Simpson said.

“JK has gotten through these types before really easily and we’re anticipating it’s going to happen (again).”

West Coast will start a short-priced favourite against the Magpies, who have spent the past week in quarantine at a resort in Joondalup, in the sudden-death final.

The Eagles were dominant 66-point winners over the Magpies earlier this year and are unbeaten in seven matches at home in 2020.

West Coast captain Luke Shuey is among the Eagles returning for the elimination final against Collingwood in Perth on Saturday night. Picture: Getty Images

They have also won five of their past six matches against the Magpies, including the 2018 grand final, but Collingwood edged them by one point in Perth last year.

But Simpson is mindful that the pressure of finals sparks upsets. The Western Bulldogs thrashed the Eagles as outsiders in Perth in an elimination final in 2016 en route to the premiership.

“Collingwood beat us here last year and they’ve had a couple of wins in the last few years as well,” he said.

“They’ve all been pretty close. The last time we played was a blowout, which we’ll take if it happens. We’re anticipating a pretty fierce contest.

“But favouritism in finals? It is not really real, I don’t reckon. It is more about two good sides going against each other.

“There’s plenty of finals experience and I think it is going to be on all game.”

Shuey and McGovern are returning from hamstring injuries and Redden had a finger issue, while Cripps recently became a ­father.

Simpson said he had no concerns about the quartet resuming at the same time in the must-win game for both clubs.

“Most of those guys have missed one or two weeks. Crippa has missed the most, and it is because he has had a child, so it is not like he has been in rehab,” Simpson said.

“He’s been ready to go. He’s been jumping out of his skin to play. But there are no guarantees. It becomes a risk, but it is a risk we’re more than willing to take.”

Mindful of the strength of West Coast’s array of tall forwards, along with the brilliance of Nic Naitanui, Collingwood selected Darcy Cameron for the clash.

Versatile Magpie Chris Mayne has recovered from a fractured cheekbone suffered in a clash with Patrick Cripps in round 14.

He is a proven finals performer and offers Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley options in terms of where to deploy him.

Magpies veteran Travis Varcoe and youngster Tyler Brown have been omitted. The four star Eagles replace Josh Rotham, Will Schofield, Bailey Williams and Luke Foley.

The prize at stake is a clash against Geelong next weekend in a semi-final at the Gabba.

Inaccuracy cost the Cats in their 16-point loss to Port Adelaide on Thursday night and there is a possibility of further pain as skipper Joel Selwood awaits scans on an injured finger.

Geelong is hopeful Selwood has only dislocated his finger and does not require surgery.