Heatwave opens door for Eagles new and old

FORMER first-round draft pick Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls will play his first game since being delisted by Richmond, with the West Coast rookie guaranteed his place in the side to face Port Adelaide at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.

A Perth heat wave is likely to open the door for exciting youngster Tom Swift and returning hard man Beau Waters, with the AFL implementing its heat policy for the NAB Cup quarter-final.

Perth is expecting a maximum temperature of 36C on Saturday and Waters and Swift, who is returning from a minor hamstring injury, have been penciled in to play with limited ground time.

The heat policy allows for the two substitutes to be used as full interchange players, making an extended eight-man interchange bench in total. 

"Player welfare’s the most important thing,” assistant coach Daniel Metropolis said from Subiaco Oval on Friday.

Oakley-Nicholls’ selection was never contingent on Saturday’s temperature. Metropolis said the 22-year-old had earned his selection with an impressive pre-season.

The former No.8 draft pick endured four injury-interrupted years at Richmond, where he played 13 games, but Metropolis said opportunities could be just around the corner at West Coast.

“We think Jarrad’s got something that we don’t have and that’s genuine speed,” Metropolis said. “He brings speed and run and carry.

“We like people who can run on Subi, it’s a big ground, so this might be the change he needed.

“We know we’ve got a couple of rookies that can be elevated before round one and he’s one of those guys fighting for a spot.

“He’s got some great talent he can add to the club for us.”

Midfield mainstays Daniel Kerr, Matt Priddis and Andrew Embley will be rested for the Port clash, giving West Coast a glimpse of its young midfielders under increased pressure.

Chris Masten, Brad Ebert, Luke Shuey and possibly recruit Brad Sheppard will carry increased responsibility in the centre square and Metropolis said it was a great opportunity for the youngsters.

The clash will also help Metropolis sort through a number of tall defenders staking their claims for a key position berth, with Mitch Brown, Eric Mackenzie and Matt Spangher all in the 29-man squad.

West Coast face the Brisbane Lions’ Jonathan Brown and Brendan Fevola in round one, and Metropolis said supporting roles alongside skipper Darren Glass were still up for grabs. 

“With the backs, it’s not set for round one,” he said. “That’s the important thing they all know and they’re going to have a red-hot go to get that first game spot.

“The wonderful thing for our club at the moment is we’ve got some genuine competition for spots again, which we haven’t had for a few years.”

The AFL's heat policy also allows for extended breaks between quarters, industrial fans placed on the team and umpire benches, and additional waterboys.

Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls is a $181,900 midfielder in this year's Toyota AFL Dream Team.