SHARROD Wellingham could become West Coast's new tagger in the absence of Scott Selwood.
A premiership player with Collingwood before moving to the Eagles at the end of 2012, injury and intermittent form has seen Wellingham endure a frustrating season-and-a half with West Coast.
He was dropped in round seven, only to be recalled one week later. But after averaging 14 touches in four weeks, including playing as the substitute against Hawthorn, Wellingham was dropped for a second time against Gold Coast before getting a late reprieve when Selwood was ruled out with his ankle problem.
Wellingham kept Gary Ablett to just 11 touches and two clearances in the first half last Saturday, but the dual Brownlow medallist hit back hard, almost stealing the game for the Suns with 22 possessions and 10 clearances in a second-half comeback that fell three points short.
Eagles coach Adam Simpson said the opportunity is there for Wellingham to take over Selwood's run-with role given the vice-captain will miss the rest of the year following ankle surgery.
"Gary Ablett was a pretty tough ask first game back to do that job," Simpson said.
"He did a reasonable job for two-and-a-half quarters, but he might be our go-to guy.
"He reads the cues well. He's done it in the past and it might be something we look at."
Simpson is expecting more of Wellingham now that he has become one of the senior players within the group.
"He needs to be consistent with his performance, no doubt," Simpson said.
"He's been around a while. He's a premiership player and he's probably looking around our club and realising he's one of the older ones now.
"He performed well on the weekend, probably his best game for the club, but we're expecting that consistency most weeks."
Simpson is searching for midfielders to stand up within his squad. The Eagles were so concerned about their running depth that they considered asking Selwood to delay his ankle surgery to see if he could continue to play.
"He was going at about 85 per cent, so it wouldn't do any more damage to keep playing," Simpson said.
"We lost a few midfielders last week, so there was the temptation to say 'hang on for one more week'. But I don't think that would have been fair for him or his body.
"He needed a full reconstruction, and it will be a 12-week process.
"We made the right call."
Reigning club best and fairest Matt Priddis will get his opportunity to captain this week as the Eagles continue to trial possible long-term replacements for Darren Glass.
Vice-captain Josh Kennedy kicked seven goals as acting skipper last Saturday and while Simpson was pleased to see Kennedy stand tall, he is keen to give others an opportunity.
