Glass withdraws from Eagles line-up
West Coast have suffered a late blow before tomorrow's clash with North Melbourne with captain Darren Glass ruled out of the match.
Glass withdrew from the squad this morning after pulling up sore following a training session yesterday. He has been replaced with the Eagles' 22 by Will Schofield.
Meanwhile, forward Mark LeCras looms as the danger man for North Melbourne, according to Geelong premiership captain Cameron Ling.
Ling says LeCras adds to an already potent forward line as the Eagles try to get their finals bid back on track at Patersons Stadium tomorrow.
The ninth-placed Eagles showed some of their best form in a narrow loss to Collingwood last week but are still to beat a top-eight side this season.
Tomorrow's game against the eighth-placed Kangaroos represents a chance to not only claim such a scalp, but leapfrog their opponents on the ladder.
LeCras' return from a one-week suspension is the only change to the side which lost to the Magpies and Ling said it was one which could decide the game if the Kangaroos can't stop the supply to the home side's forward line.
"You look at that forward line with (Josh) Kennedy and (Jack) Darling and it's already dangerous," Ling said.
"Having LeCras in there just adds that different something to it.
"LeCras can play tall or small, kicks goals, makes the defender have to play on them, they can't come off and help, so it makes it that bit more potent when he's out there."
The Roos added half-back Aaron Mullett and midfielder Liam Anthony to their team to replace Sam Wright (omitted) and Joel Tippett (pectoral), who joins Nathan Grima, Robbie Tarrant, Cameron Delaney and Tom Curran on a growing injury list.
Ling said with such a heavy injury toll in the back line, the LeCras match-up would be giving the coaching staff more head- aches than most.
"You've got to have someone quick and agile enough and who can play small and defend him on the ground, but if you have someone who's just like that he'll kill you in the air," he said.
"But vice versa if you have a bigger bloke who can go with him in the air, then he's going to get you for speed and movement on the ground.
"You've really got to get that match-up spot on."
North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said he had full faith in his side's defence despite the injuries.
"We're really confident we've got the depth to cover," he said.
"Quite often this year we've played four key-position defenders."
Scott said the Roos had no problem travelling to Patersons Stadium for the second time this year, calling the venue a home away from home.
"We love going to Perth," he said. "We've got our Melbourne and our Hobart supporter base, but Perth is our third-biggest supporter base.
"Our fans love seeing us there and we're locked in for two games every year it seems.
"I think the ground tends to suit the way we want to play. The boys have felt pretty comfortable and enjoy playing in Perth."
