Simpson sends Selwood back to tagging
Scott Selwood will return to the tagging role that helped earn him a club champion award at West Coast.
The Eagles vice-captain won the best-and-fairest award in 2012 after a breakout season playing a run-with role while averaging 25 disposals.
He was subsequently let off the leash as a ball-winning midfielder, but injuries curtailed his output in the two seasons since as West Coast failed to reach finals in both years.
Selwood made a successful return from off-season ankle surgery on Sunday night, gathering 24 disposals and four clearances against Fremantle in the club’s final pre-season match.
Coach Adam Simpson said that Selwood would return to tagging as the Eagles attempt to return to September action.
In a question-and-answer session on the AFL’s Facebook page, Simpson also said:
Elliot Yeo would be asked to play in defence this season;
Second-year midfielder Dom Sheed was a lock to play in round one against the Western Bulldogs;
Fans should be patient with Tom Lamb, despite the early buzz around last year’s No.32 draft pick;
West Coast were not flat-track bullies capable of beating only the league’s lesser teams.
Of Selwood, Simpson said: “At stages we’ll get him to run with players. (It’s) just great to see him back injury-free.”
Yeo had originally been earmarked for more midfield time in 2015, but was used exclusively in defence against the Dockers in the absence of injured trio Eric Mackenzie, Will Schofield and Mitch Brown.
The 21-year-old was asked to man Matthew Pavlich and was monstered in several one-on-one marking contests.
“We need him down back,” Simpson said.
“We want to build a flexible list and we see him developing in a way that we can use him in both positions. (I’m) excited to see what he can do down back.”
Five of Sheed’s 10 AFL matches last season came as a substitute. He had 23 disposals and a team-high six inside-50s against Fremantle on Sunday night.
Simpson said the 2013 No.11 draft pick would play against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Saturday week, with Lamb and fellow draftee Jackson Nelson also coming under consideration.
“We’ve been happy with his pre-season,” Simpson said of Sheed.
