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West Coast Eagles could name unchanged side for Marvel Stadium clash with Western Bulldogs

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Mitchell WoodcockThe West Australian
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Ryan Maric could return for West Coast.
Camera IconRyan Maric could return for West Coast. Credit: Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

West Coast could name an unchanged side for just the second time this season as they look to take advantage of an injury-ravaged Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium.

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It comes as star ruckman Tim English was named for the Dogs despite battling a back issue.

The Eagles named Ryan Maric, Harvey Johnston and Sandy Brock as additions for an extended 26-man squad as they look to end an 11-game losing streak at the Docklands venue on Sunday.

West Coast will weigh up whether to make any changes following their 25-point defeat to Adelaide at Optus Stadium, with teams to be finalised on Friday afternoon.

The Bulldogs have not been as fortunate with availability, losing Connor Budarick (ankle), Ryley Sanders (hand) and Nick Coffield (concussion) to injury. Will Lewis and Lachlan McNeil have both been dropped.

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West Australian-raised defender Jedd Busslinger is one of eight potential inclusions alongside Bailey Williams, Luke Cleary, Sam Davidson, Rhylee West, Oskar Baker, Josh Dolan and Louis Emmett.

Ruckman Tim English has also been named, despite Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge flagging earlier on Thursday he could be in doubt with a back complaint.

“In hindsight, he maybe wasn’t totally ready to play last week, so that’s unfortunate because that’s costly,” he said.

“If he, at the end of this session, isn’t really physically ready to (play), then he won’t play. It’s quite simple.”

For West Coast, Maric is a chance to be recalled after only one game out of the AFL side, having racked up 25 disposals and eight tackles in a win for the Eagles’ WAFL side against East Fremantle last week.

Out-of-contract wingman-turned-forward Johnston was named best-on-ground after he kicked three goals from 20 touches, while defender Brock is in the mix as the Eagles continue to try to solve their woes down back.

First-round draftee Elijah Hewett remains on the outer with his future still up in the air, having played only six games this season despite his contract expiring at the end of the season.

Western Bulldogs v West Coast

Sunday, Marvel Stadium, 11.10am

BULLDOGS

B: M Sellwood J O’Donnell B Khamis

HB: L Cleary R Lobb B Dale

C: L Bramble M Bontempelli C Hynes

HF: S Davidson J Croft A Jones

F: R West A Naughton C Weightman

FOLL: T English J Freijah E Richards

I/C: O Baker J Busslinger J Dolan L Emmett L Kennedy M Kennedy T Liberatore B Williams.

IN: L Cleary S Davidson R West O Baker J Busslinger J Dolan L Emmett B Williams.

OUT: N Coffield (concusion) C Budarick (ankle) W Lewis (omitted) L McNeil (omitted) R Sanders (hand).

EAGLES

B: L Duggan R Bazzo B Starcevich

HB: T McCarthy T Young L Baker

C: W Duursma E Yeo B Allan

HF: T Kelly J Shanahan H Graham

F: M Murdock J Waterman J Hutchinson

FOLL: B Williams H Reid O Francou

I/C: B Hough R Maric H Johnston T Cole J Williams H Davis S Brock M Herbert

IN: R Maric H Johnston S Brock

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