All-Australian forward Liam Ryan will play his first AFL match in more than 12 months after he was today recalled for Sunday’s clash against Gold Coast.

Ryan, one of a long list of casualties from the round three RAC Derby against Fremantle last season, has since had two hamstring tendon surgeries but has played two WAFL games and is ready to resume.

He is one of six inclusions in an extended 26-man team which will be finalised tomorrow before the team’s long flight to Queensland.

He comes in for young forward Noah Long who has a hip injury, while Tom Barrass could not be considered because of suspension and the club has opted to manage young gun Harley Reid who has had a heavy workload in his first season of senior football.

Vying to secure the last two vacancies are five candidates who have been named on the interchange bench. Among them are veteran wingman Andrew Gaff, who has built a strong body of form with the WAFL Eagles in the last month, while tough in-and-under midfielder Jai Culley is also on the extended bench.

Culley has not played since rupturing his ACL in round eight against Richmond last season and has also played a couple of WAFL games on his return.

Half-forward Harvey Johnson is under consideration to make his AFL debut, while Luke Edwards has been cleared to resume after completing concussion protocols and tall defender Harry Edwards is also in the mix.

In addition to those players, Dom Sheed, Tyler Brockman and Campbell Chesser have been named on the eight-man bench.