22/10/2026
2027 AFL teams: Way-too-early look at West Coast Eagles’ best line-up after trade period (Freo part has been removed)
Chris Robinson The West Australian
Thu, 22 October 2026 8:10AM
Yes, round one of 2027 is still 21 weeks away... but it’s never too early to take a sneak peek at what your club’s best 23 might look like next season!
Get our early thoughts on the Eagles’ optimal line-up below.
WEST COAST
B: Brandon Starcevich, Harry Edwards, Reuben Ginbey
HB: Tom McCarthy, Rhett Bazzo, Trent Rivers
C: Liam Duggan, Tim Kelly, Bo Allan
HF: Jack Graham, Jobe Shanahan, Elliot Yeo
F: Milan Murdock, Jake Waterman, Cooper Duff-Tytler
R: Bailey Williams, Harley Reid, Willem Duursma
IC: Liam Baker, Jack Viney, Brady Hough, Marcus Herbert, first-round draft pick
Changes from 2026 round 24 side -
IN: Harry Edwards, Reuben Ginbey, Trent Rivers, Liam Duggan, Jack Viney, first-round draft pick
OUT: Tom Cole, Hamish Davis, Tom Gross, Josh Lindsay, Jack Williams, Tylar Young
Health permitting, there’s some encouraging additions here to fuel Eagles fans’ hopes of a significant improvement on a four-win campaign.
Trade period recruits Trent Rivers and Jack Viney make their way in, as do important defenders Reuben Ginbey and Harry Edwards – should the latter be cleared to resume following concussion issues. One would expect West Coast’s high-end draft pick will follow the recent example of Harley Reid, Willem Duursma and Cooper Duff-Tytler and play plenty of senior footy in year one.
One of the big questions the Eagles now face is how much experience they rely on in their first-choice side, and what roles those senior players fill. Do Liam Duggan and Tom Cole – two of the three remaining players from the 2018 flag – earn their spots? Can the likes of Viney, Tim Kelly, Elliot Yeo and Jack Graham all co-exist in the one side and log midfield minutes like they have for most of their careers? There’s also important leadership decisions that factor into that conversation.
Elijah Hewett, Josh Lindsay, Deven Robertson and Archer Reid are all former top-30 draft picks who’ll be looking to press their case, with the latter two coming off significant injury lay-offs entering 2027.