Eagles recall Kelly as midfield return looms against Tigers
Tim Kelly looks set to get his wish and return to the midfield after being recalled for West Coast's clash against fellow battlers Richmond at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.
As revealed by The West Australian last week, Kelly made the bold decision to drop himself back to the WAFL after being told he'd likely start as the sub against Port Adelaide that weekend.
It came on the back of Kelly's desire to return to the midfield where he won the 2023 John Worsfold Medal, having been pushed out ahead of their last meeting with the Tigers in round nine.
The 30-year-old responded with 27 disposals and two goals in the Eagles reserves defeat to West Perth on Saturday night to force his way back into the team against the Tigers.
He has been named in the midfield on the official teamsheet submitted to the AFL on Thursday.
Kelly had already been dropped earlier this year for the first time since joining West Coast in late 2019, while he also re-signed for another two seasons.
Before training on Thursday, coach Andrew McQualter said Kelly could potentially move back into the midfield if he earned a recall. Sport. West Coast Eagles training at Mineral Resources Park in Lathlain. Tim Kelly. (front) Credit: Jackson Flindell / The West Australian
'He played midfield in the game last week in the WAFL for the whole game. Tim's played a lot of footy as a midfielder, so he stepped back into it really comfortably,' he said.
'We're just going to have to pick our mix and get our balance right in the midfield. Losing Jack (Graham) out of that midfield, we lose 150 games of experience, and it wasn't easy to replace.
'It's an acknowledgement of things aren't going the way we both want at the moment so to help our team we need to get Tim back in form and that's part of what our discussion was, and he went back and played a strong game.'
Kelly is joined by forward Liam Ryan who was a late out of the Eagles' side that lost to the Power, while speedster Jack Petruccelle has been named for his first game since round two against Brisbane.
Third-year midfielder Elijah Hewett has been managed after playing the past 12 games to take his tally to 15 for the season, a promising sign after missing all last year with a serious foot injury. Jack Petrucellehas not played since round two. Credit: Michael Wilson / The West Australian
Small forwards Noah Long – who was the tactical sub against the Power – and Malakai Champion have been dropped.
McQualter said Ryan would be a valuable addition to their forward line.
'He's one of our best players in our team and our forward line in particular,' he said.
'Every time we've got him he helps us.'
Petruccelle needs some solid showing given the 26-year-old Victorian is out of contract at the end of this season and has been overlooked in favour of younger players for much of the season.
Richmond will go into the game unchanged after upsetting an injury hit Essendon at the MCG last weekend.
WEST COAST V RICHMOND
Saturday, Optus Stadium, 6.10pm
EAGLES
B: R Ginbey H Edwards L Duggan
HB: T McCarthy R Bazzo T Cole
C: J Cripps H Reid R Maric
HF: L Baker J Shanahan L Ryan
F: M Owies J Williams T Brockman
FOLL: M Flynn B Hough T Kelly
I/C: J Petrucelle C Hall B Williams T Dewar J Hutchinson
EMG: J Hunt M Champion S Brock
IN: L Ryan T Kelly J Petruccelle
OUT: E Hewett (Managed) N Long (Omitted) M Champion (Omitted)
TIGERS
B: N Vlastuin B Miller N Broad
HB: S Banks J Short T Brown
C: K McIntosh D Prestia L Trainor
HF: J Ross S Campbell M Rioli
F: R Mansell J Faull J Koschitzke
FOLL: T Nankervis T Taranto J Hopper
I/C: T Young T Sonsie T Hotton T Sims J Trezise
EMG: J Blight S Green K Smith
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