- Mitch Brown back for first game since round one last year
- Eagles lose patience with recruit Jack Redden
- Dons get boost with Matt Dea's return
WEST Coast has axed underperforming recruit Jack Redden and called up forgotten key defender Mitch Brown amid four changes for Thursday night's clash against Essendon.
After playing every game this year since his trade from the Brisbane Lions, Redden has run out of chances, having only averaged 17 disposals in the Eagles' lacklustre midfield.
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The 25-year-old onballer has been replaced by fellow tough nut Patrick McGinnity, who will play his first game for 2016, for the meeting with the bottom-placed Bombers.
Meanwhile, veteran backman Brown will also make his first appearance after a long-term finger injury, while full-back Eric Mackenzie has been left in the WAFL to rebuild his confidence after coming back this year from a knee reconstruction that sidelined him for all of 2015.
Brown hasn't played at senior level since suffering a serious knee injury in round one last year against the Western Bulldogs.
Youngster Jackson Nelson comes into the side along with ruckman Scott Lycett, who was dropped for the win over the Lions before the bye for disciplinary reasons.
The Eagles have lost small forward Josh Hill to illness, with ruckman Jonathan Giles and fellow big man Fraser McInnes both omitted.
The Bombers have made just the solitary change to the side which pushed Greater Western Sydney to 27 points before the bye, bringing in defender Matt Dea in place of Patrick Ambrose (back).
Dea was a late withdrawal for the Giants clash, but the top-up backman has played every other game for the Dons.
Thursday night's clash will be Essendon mentor John Worsfold's first game coaching against the club where he is revered as an all-time great.
Worsfold led to two flags as captain and then to the 2006 premiership as coach, and will take part in the 10-year anniversary celebrations over the weekend in Perth.
The Eagles' flag-winning team will attend the match at Domain Stadium and be presented to the crowd at half time.
Thursday, June 30
West Coast v Essendon at Domain Stadium, 6.10pm AWST
WEST COAST
In: M. Brown, P. McGinnity, S. Lycett, J. Nelson
Out: J. Hill (illness), J. Giles, J. Redden, F. McInnes
ESSENDON
In: M. Dea
Out: P. Ambrose (back)
