The West Coast Eagles have confirmed their 23-player team to face North Melbourne on Saturday at Optus Stadium
So similar in one way, so different in another.
Such are the journeys of Jai Culley and Jack Hutchinson as they prepare to play against North Melbourne at Optus Stadium on Saturday.
Hutchinson, who joined the club eight days ago via the mid-season rookie draft, has been elevated to make his West Coast Eagles debut while Culley will play his first senior match in over 12 months after a serious knee injury.
Along with Jake Waterman, who has recovered from a shoulder injury that forced him out at the 11th hour against St Kilda last Saturday, they have been included in the round 13 game against the Roos.
Culley arrived at the club in similar circumstances to Hutchinson two years ago, moving west in early June and playing his first against Hawthorn in round 18 at the MCG.
Football headquarters harbours both good and bad memories for the hard-working midfielder, damaging his ACL against Richmond at the same venue in round eight last season.
As expected he was vigilant with his rehabilitation and has played seven WAFL games in preparation for an AFL recall.
Culley forced his way into the team with a best afield performance against Perth last Sunday, accumulating 30 possessions, 12 inside 50 entries and a goal.
Hutchinson, recruited from the Collingwood VFL team last Wednesday, was also eye-catching in that two-point triumph over the Demons in Northam, kicking five goals in his first outing for the club.
Waterman, despite missing two games, sits fourth on the goal-kicking table with 30 goals. Only Carlton spearhead Charlie Curnow (36 goals), Gold Coast’s Ben King (36) and Giants star Jesse Hogan (31) have been more prolific.
He was named against the Saints last week but was ruled out shortly before the bounce with a shoulder issue.
Making way for that trio are Harley Reid (suspended), Zane Trew (omitted) and Jack Williams (omitted).
Trew was the sub last week, replacing Williams in the last quarter.
Named on the interchange bench are utility player Jamaine Jones, forward Ryan Maric, tall defender Harry Edwards, Hutchinson and Culley. One of those five players will be this week’s substitute.
The presence of Maric, who made his way to the club via last year’s mid-season ballot, means that all three players brought into club in that fashion are in this team.
Maric made his debut in the corresponding game last year against Adelaide after playing just one WAFL match.