West Coast ahead Allen says he’s excited to see mid-season rookie draftee Ryan Maric make his extraordinary debut in opposition to Adelaide on Saturday.
Maric, 18, will make his debut within the Eagles’ No. 41 jumper, simply 10 days after being taken with the highest choose within the mid-season draft.
“It’s one of the positives of injuries, young players get an opportunity and just how excited he is to be at the footy club,” Allen mentioned.
“He’s got a real energy about him and I’m looking forward to going out (there) with him.
“He’s a beautiful kick, got great skills and he’s a big size. He was saying ‘I play half forward’ and I was looking eye-to-eye with him and I was like right, maybe I’m undersized.
“He’s got a lot of scope to become a good AFL player in time.”
Maric is certainly one of six inclusions for the Eagles with Luke Shuey (hamstring/ankle) and Jack Darling (arm) coming back from damage.
Samo Petrevski Seton (quad) and Luke Edwards (concussion) are the opposite inclusions whereas Greg Clark has been promoted to the beginning 22.
The Eagles lose Shannon Hurn (hamstring), Connor West (knee), Josh Rotham (finger), Elijah Hewett (concussion), Callum Jamieson (groin) and Liam Duggan (suspension).
Allen may even hand the captaincy again to Shuey after taking on the position for the previous two video games.
“It was a great experience and I’m really grateful for the club for allowing me to do it,” Allen mentioned.
Asked if he’d just like the position sooner or later, Allen was coy.
“Yeah, potentially. I mean, as I said, I really enjoyed the experience but as long as Luke’s here he’s going to be our skipper,” he mentioned.
West Coast’s main spearhead is ready to return to his position as Jack-of-all-trades because the Eagles look to seek out help for ruckman Bailey Williams.
The Eagles’ damage disaster has hit each a part of their squad, together with their ruck division with Nic Naitanui (Achilles) and Jamieson unavailable.
West Coast resisted the urge to debut South Australian native and their solely different ruckman in Harry Barnett, who was a travelling emergency.
Forward Jake Waterman, who has pinch-hit beforehand this season, is ready for a stint within the backline to assist out second-year defender Rhett Bazzo sort out Crows tall trio Taylor Walker, Darcy Fogarty and Riley Thilthorpe.
It leaves ahead Oscar Allen, who has kicked a career-best 32 objectives in 12 video games already this season and 21 greater than the following greatest, as the person prone to relieve Williams when he wants a break in opposition to Crows 105kg, 202cm monster Reilly O’Brien.
“If that’s the situation then I am more than happy to do it,” Allen mentioned when requested concerning the potential to ruck.
“Everyone’s taking up and partaking in whatever role they can, so if it’s my turn to be the back-up ruck, I’ll go back in and get it done for us.
“I have done a couple in the forward 50 (this season) … it’s something that you keep plying your trade and when you work on it.
“I was never a great backup ruck, shall we say it was kind of just holding a spot while Nic was injured for a period of time.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
