The West Coast Eagles match committee resisted the case for change when selecting the team to play Brisbane in the season opener at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.
Preferring to stay with the tried and tested, they could not find room for any of half a dozen young players pushing for early inclusion. The message to those youngsters will be to be patient, maintain form in the WAFL and opportunities will come.
But for now, the likes of Brad Ebert, Chris Masten, Jamie McNamara, Scott Selwood and Matthew Spangher will need to focus their first-up form on commitments with WAFL clubs.
All had played well during the pre-season campaign, but not quite well enough to force out the men who have staked claims for positions within a well-balanced and structured line-up.
With champion midfielder Daniel Kerr proving his fitness during training through the week, the one door that was ajar for those seeking to force a place in the centre was slammed shut.
Typically, Kerr was involved in a couple of heavy collisions at training on Wednesday, shrugged them off and declared himself ready to tackle Brisbane in what looms as an exciting contest.
An indication of the form shown by a brace of youngsters was demonstrated when Masten, McNamara and Scott Selwood were included on the list of emergencies.
The match committee elected to rest young forward Josh Kennedy who has a slight calf strain, opting to take a conservative approach with a young man who has been greatly impressive since arriving at the club courtesy of the Chris Judd trade to Carlton.
This West Coast outfit will be keen to stamp itself as a formidable entity and the Lions will certainly present them with a challenge. The last time Brisbane played in Perth, they emerged with the points.
