Youngster Tom Swift starred in his side's victory against Carlton
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The emerging pack of West Coast youngsters pushing for selection for the season opener against Brisbane in three weeks’ time swelled considerably when the club eclipsed Carlton in a NAB Challenge match at Medibank Stadium on Saturday.
Adding to the impressive efforts of Luke Shuey, Nic Naitanui, Chris Masten, Brad Ebert and Scott Selwood in this pre-season campaign came another cluster of strong showings from some young guns.
Tom Swift, Pat McGinnity, Koby Stevens, Brad Sheppard, Mitch Brown, Will Sullivan and Andrew Strijk all made an impression as West Coast sauntered to a 39-point victory over the Blues.
The Eagles were always in control and that was largely due to the output of those emerging players while senior players Adam Selwood, Shannon Hurn and the returning Beau Waters were also influential.
Waters, who has missed almost two full seasons of football, again showed his penchant for the contest, and is relishing his return to competitive action.
Swift and McGinnity continue to develop their midfield prowess while rookie-listed players, ruckman Sullivan and half-back Strijk, were also under notice.
Brown showed his versatility in kicking three goals while playing as a forward and vindicated the club view that he could emerge as a player in the mould of Adam Hunter, with the capacity to fill a key position void at either end of the ground.
Stevens and Sheppard, draftees from the 2009 ballot, both showed on Saturday that they are players of immense talent. Sheppard has done so throughout the pre-season campaign, but Stevens was having his first hit-out of the summer and appears a hard-nosed midfielder.
The impressive form of so many developing players will provide the match committee with much to ponder in the lead-up to the challenge against a Brisbane team widely regarded as one of the big improvers of the approaching season.
The club will round its pre-season campaign with a match against Melbourne at Casey Field on Saturday. Westcoasteagles.com.au will have regular updates on that contest.
Details
WEST COAST EAGLES 3.4 7.6 11.9 16.9 105
CARLTON 1.2 2.5 6.7 9.12 66
GOALS - WEST COAST: Brown 3; Selwood, Naitanui, Lynch 2; Dalziell, Stevens, McKinley, Rosa, Nicoski, Spangher, Sullivan. CARLTON: Betts, Houlihan 2; Murphy, Browne, Scotland, Lucas, O'hAilpin.
BEST- WEST COAST: A. Selwood, Naitanui, Swift, Waters, McGinnity, Hurn, B Jones. CARLTON: Judd, Scotland, Simpson, Hampson, Browne.
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