WEST Coast defender Brad Sheppard has been ruled out of Saturday night's clash with the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba due to an ankle injury.
It was reported on Thursday that Sheppard did not fly to Brisbane with the team on Thursday afternoon but he was named in the 22 to take on the Lions.
He was expected to fly on Friday but did not recover in time to get on a plane.
He has been replaced in the side by young defender Blayne Wilson, who will play his first game this season after making his AFL debut last year.
The 22-year-old played seven matches in 2013 but has been hampered this season by a thumb injury.
Adam Carter flew to Brisbane on Friday as an emergency.
Sheppard's withdrawal means West Coast has made six changes in total from the side that lost to the Sydney Swans last Sunday at Patersons Stadium.
Dean Cox will miss a third match in five weeks due to soreness raising doubts about the future of the Eagles' games record-holder.
He was rested in rounds 13 and 14 having played 104 matches in a row to that point. He returned to face Fremantle in round 15 and had 15 disposals and 15 hit-outs. He had 13 touches and 34 hit-outs in the wet last week.
Cox flew to Brisbane on Thursday with the team despite not being named, as he did when West Coast travelled to Melbourne to face St Kilda in round 14.
Cox is the Eagles' ruck coach but his playing future beyond this year appears bleak.
West Coast coach Adam Simpson said on Thursday that he was having ongoing discussions with the six-time All Australian about the prospect of a 15th season in the AFL.
"We're working on that together at the moment," Simpson said.
"I would've thought we'll work it out before the end of the year. There's a bit of water to go under the bridge before we get to a solution on that."
Matt Priddis will assume the Eagles captaincy this week as the rotation between he, Josh Kennedy, Shannon Hurn and Eric Mackenzie continues.
