With just two rounds to go in the 2022 AFL season, West Coast have one eye on finishing the year and one eye on remodeling the nest for the tough years ahead.
With an important draft looming in the off-season, the Eagles will need to make room on their list to be able to bring in the young talent the club so desperately needs for its rebuild.
Following the retirement of spearhead Josh Kennedy, attention quickly turns to the other veterans on the list: Nic Naitanui, Shannon Hurn, jack redden and captain luke shuey.
The West Australian understands that Redden has reached his contract trigger, having played 19 games this season, and has earned a one-year contract extension, which he is keen to honour.
Hurn, who will turn 35 next month, is also expected to earn a new deal for 2023 on the back of solid form this season and is seen as an important figure in the club’s rebuild.
Three-time All-Australian Naitanui has played seven games this year but is in talks for a contract extension, while Shuey is also set to feature next year after managing 15 games this season.
Unfortunately for West Coast’s younger out-of-contract players, this shrinks the available space the club has on offer.
Connor West and jamine jones are both Category A rookies after signing one-year deals at the end of the 2021 season but remain without new contracts for next year.
West has played 14 games this season but has been hampered by injury throughout. His latest setback from him, a wrist injury sustained against Gold Coast, has ruled him out for the remaining two games of the AFL season.
Jones has played 16 games this year, including the last eight matches and is thriving in a new role off the half-back flank. Both are unlikely to be deleted.
Meanwhile, ruckman Bailey Williams you have fallen out of favor at the wrong point of the season.
The 22-year-old, who has managed 16 games this season – many as the No.1 ruck in Naitanui’s absence – was dropped ahead of the western derby on Saturday.
His omission comes despite Callum Jamieson’s season-ending groin injury, with Josh Rotham brought into the side as Naitanui’s back-up ruck option.
Among the out-of-contract Eagles promoted to the 22 this week are jackson nelson and Hugh Dixon.
Nelson has been stuck playing in the twos, having not featured at the top level since reaching his 100-game milestone for the club against Geelong in round 14 – his 11th game for the season.
Dixon, the former Docker who signed with the club in the pre-season as a supplemental selection period player, has been brought in to cover the loss of Kennedy.
The 23-year-old has managed eight games this season but has been in and out of the side, playing five games in the WAFL.
patrick naishanother SSP selection for the club, played the first 10 games of the season but has only featured once since – against Adelaide in round 13. He’s listed as an emergency against the Dockers.
Tom Joycethe Eagles’ final SSP player, is on the inactive list after suffering a serious ankle injury before round one and will not feature this season.
The situation appears more dire for West Coast defender Alex Whiterden and small forward Isiah Winder.
Witherden has played 13 games this season, coming in and out of the side and featured as late as round 19 against St Kilda.
But with West Coast appearing to favor other small defenders, Witherden could be one of the most vulnerable out-of-contract Eagles.
Meanwhile, Winder, 20, has only kicked three goals across six games this season, all in one match against Greater Western Sydney.
A decision on his contract may come down to premiership forward willie rioliwho is understood to be weighing up his future.
West Coast has reportedly offered the 27-year-old a two-year deal, which Rioli is yet to sign.
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