Lingering groin troubles have held Masten back in his first two seasons, but the Eagles’ first pick (No.3 overall) of 2007 appeared stronger and faster in Wednesday night’s one hour scratch match.
The 20-year-old lined up on a wing for West Coast’s ‘A’ side, donning a new white clash strip, and won a stack of possessions all over Subiaco Oval in an injury-free match.
Assistant coach Peter Sumich said the coaches were rapt with Masten’s performance, which drove a 7.15 (57) to 3.3 (21) victory for the classier West Coast outfit.
“’Masto’ looked sharp running away from packs, whereas over the last probably 12 months with that groin injury he hasn’t done that,” Sumich said after the match.
“So to come through that game and look sharp is a bonus for us.”
Masten’s performance headlined a good night for West Coast’s emerging midfield, with Daniel Kerr, Brad Ebert, Luke Shuey, Matt Priddis and Scott Selwood also enjoying positive performances.
Exciting youngster Shuey played two thirds of Wednesday night’s match, which was divided into three 20-minute blocks, and comprehensively beat opponent Kerr in the first of those.
The highly-rated inside midfielder won the football in close, showed clean disposal and kicked a polished goal on his non-preferred left foot from long-range on the boundary line.
West Coast had planned to put Shuey in cotton wool for the NAB Cup after a series of knee, groin and hernia injuries ruined his debut 2009 season, however, Sumich said that decision could be revised.
“At this stage we weren’t going to play him. But we might change late,” Sumich said. “It depends what John (Worsfold) and the fitness guys are thinking.
“We’ll be very careful with him over the next month or so.”
After a slow start against Shuey, Kerr came into his own in the middle third of the match. Sumich said the star midfielder’s game was outstanding, but it would take him at least three hit-outs ahead of round one to hit peak form.
“The way he does play - he’s an impact player - it’ll take him a little while, probably a few games to get that going,” Sumich said.
While looking uncomfortable up forward, Nick Naitanui was the game’s dominant ruckman against rookie Will Sullivan, while Ash Hansen was the best forward on the ground, despite Ben McKinley’s three goals.
Hansen played just nine games in 2009 and will face an uphill battle to take the centre half-forward position from youngster Josh Kennedy in 2010, but he impressed nonetheless with two goals and a hand in two more.
West Coast will now turn its attention to the NAB Cup opener against Essendon on February 12 at Subiaco.
West Coast ‘A’ 1.4 5.9 7.15 (57)
West Coast ‘B’ 1.2 2.3 3.3 (21)
GOALS
West Coast ‘A’: McKinley 3, Hansen 2, A Selwood, Embley
West Coast ‘B’: Shuey, Krakoer, Wolfenden
BEST
West Coast ‘A’: Masten, Naitanui, Kerr, Hansen, Embley, Priddis, S Selwood
West Coast ‘B’: Ebert, Shuey
INJURIES: Nil
Crowd: Approximately 3000 at Subiaco Oval
Chris Masten is a $293,900 midfielder in this year’s Toyota AFL Dream Team.
