Brandon Starcevich Takes Round 13 Spot For West Coast
Brandon Starcevich will make his first AFL game as an Eagle in round 13 against Port Adelaide, with Josh Lindsay squeezed out of West Coast’s backline. The call gives the Eagles another experienced option after calf injuries and adds pressure to a selection group that is still taking shape.
Starcevich Joins West Coast
Andrew McQualter said he was “a bit flat” leaving Lindsay out, but West Coast still chose to bring in Starcevich for Saturday night’s game. The recruit is a two-time premiership Lion, and the Eagles see him as coverage for both tall and small opponents.
McQualter said Starcevich should be available to play close to his normal full game time after two runs in the WAFL following his calf injuries. He also described him as already being a leader at the footy club over a short period of time, with a calm edge that turns demanding once he steps on the oval.
Josh Lindsay Misses Out
Lindsay had played 11 games since his debut in round one and earned a Rising Star nomination in round 10, so the omission comes after a solid opening stretch. McQualter did not hide that part of the decision, saying, “In some ways I’m a bit flat for Josh going out of the team. I think Josh is going to be an incredible player for us for a long time,” before adding that the Eagles now have “real competition for spots.”
That competition is the immediate pressure point inside West Coast’s backline. Starcevich’s selection forces a reshuffle rather than a simple like-for-like replacement, and McQualter said the addition “helps our whole list develop.”
Port Adelaide Rematch
The matchup also carries recent history. West Coast beat Port Adelaide by two points in round three at Adelaide Oval after Jobe Shanahan’s match-saving mark, and Port has since been through a run of narrow games, beating Geelong and losing thrillers against Adelaide by one point, the Bulldogs by two and Hawthorn by three.
McQualter said Port’s ladder position does not tell the full story, which leaves West Coast preparing for another close game rather than leaning on the earlier result. For the Eagles, the selection change is the clearest sign that experienced cover is now being folded into a side that still has young players fighting for space.
