West Coast Eagles draftee Lucca Grego to make final-round debut against Sydney Swans

West Coast will unveil the last of their draftees when Lucca Grego runs out in the Eagles’ final home-and-away game against Sydney at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.

Grego will become the Eagles’ 10th debutant this season and joins fellow 2024 draftees in Bo Allan, Tom Gross, Hamish Davis, Jobe Shanahan and Next Generation Academy product Malakai Champion in getting a game in their first year.

The 18-year-old Western Jets product has played all 17 WAFL games for West Coast both in the midfield and at half-back, coming in on the back of 21 disposals in a defeat to Swan Districts last weekend.

Drafted with pick 48 last year, Grego came to the Eagles after captaining the Western Jets in the Coates Talent League, averaging 23 disposals to finish third in the best and fairest.

“It’s pretty exciting, and the boys all got around me as well, which was really cool,” Grego said.

“I found out this afternoon in front of the playing group, ‘Duggo’ (Liam Duggan) got up and announced I’m going to play my first game this week.

“Since arriving at West Coast, my focus has been on playing my role, contributing to the team, and playing with a lot of intent and flair.

“What I’m most looking forward to is running out there with the boys. I’ve spent all year sitting in the boxes watching them do it, so I can’t wait to experience it myself.”

It comes as the Eagles were forced to make two changes with defender Ryan Maric to miss his first game of the season because of illness, while recruit Matt Owies will miss with a calf injury for the second time this season.

Grego is joined in the team alongside Tyrell Dewar, who has not played since he was subbed out of the thumping defeat to Melbourne in round 21.

Sydney have dropped Peter Ladhams, Caiden Cleary and Jesse Dattoli in favour of East Fremantle product Corey Warner, star ruckman Brodie Grundy and mature recruit Riley Bice.

WEST COAST v SYDNEY

Saturday, Optus Stadium, 5.35pm

EAGLES

B: T Cole S Brock B Hough

HB: L Grego R Ginbey L Baker

C: C Chesser T Kelly T McCarthy

HF: E Hewett L Ryan H Davis

F: T Brockman J Shanahan J Cripps

FOLL: M Flynn J Graham C Hall

I/C: N Long B Williams R Bazzo T Dewar J Newton

EMG: J Petruccelle H Johnston J Williams

IN: L Grego T Dewar

OUT: R Maric (illness) M Owies (calf)

SWANS

B: C Mills L Melican T McCartin

HB: D Rampe N Blakey S Wicks

C: O Florent Ch Warner E Gulden

HF: J Lloyd H McLean J Jordon

F: W Hayward J Buller T Papley

FOLL: B Grundy I Heeney A Sheldrick

I/C: H Cunningham B Campbell R Bice J Rowbottom Co Warner

EMG: P Ladhams M Robert C Cleary

IN: B Grundy R Bice Co Warner

OUT: P Ladhams C Cleary J Dattoli (all omitted)