Masten a chance to debut

DESPITE having missed all four of West Coast’s NAB Cup/Challenge preseason matches, youngster Chris Masten is still a good chance to play in round one.

Masten was taken with West Coast’s first pick in the NAB AFL National Draft at number three, but a police charge on Australia Day saw him fined by the courts and fined and suspended for the preseason by the club.

But the 18-year-old has continued to work hard since then, and has impressed both on the track and with his WAFL club East Fremantle.

West Coast Eagles coach John Worsfold confirmed Masten was still suspended for this Friday night’s clash with Essendon at Subiaco, but said he was well in the mix for the first round.

“We’re really pleased with his form, he’s shown some great signs, and East Fremantle have been rapt with how he’s going about it,” he said at the West Coast season launch on Wednesday.

“It would have been nice to see him get the opportunity, but that hasn’t eventuated. It certainly won’t stifle him, I think he’s going to have a great, long career.

“We’ll pick what we believe is the best team going into round one from all available players. He wasn’t available through the NAB Cup, and he was certainly injured in the first one of those anyway.

"But he’s available now, playing good footy, and if he keeps his touch up, he’ll certainly be looked at.”