Mitchell Woodcock: Why West Coast Eagles should consider new role western derby for Milan Murdock

West Coast coach Andrew McQualter faces difficult decisions around the make up of his midfield, but the answer could be Milan Murdock. The Eagles’ engine room will be boosted by the return of Elliot Yeo but he alone cannot fill the midfield time left vacant by injured duo Deven Robertson and Jack Graham when they face Fremantle on Sunday. Not for the first time, McQualter threw Liam Baker into the middle after half-time against the Cats and the co-captain looked more than capable. But against a fleet-footed Fremantle forward line, he is likely going to be needed down back to apply pressure and ensure the Dockers don’t get on top in the ground ball game in their front half. Tom McCarthy is another option, but has looked a lot better across half-back, while Elijah Hewett is capable but has missed a bit of football already this year and might not be ready for the rigours of full midfield minutes. Brady Hough has been a midfielder both last year and this year, but a shut down role on Isaiah Dudley and Michael Frederick are likely be his unenviable task at Optus Stadium this week. And Willem Duursma while impressive in there is still learning the game and six matches into his career might be needing a bit more of an outside role to keep his body fresh. It leaves McQualter with few options to turn to given the unavailability of several players. Murdock looms as the break glass in case of emergency choice given he’s done it before at WAFL level and done it well. There is no doubt he is great at that high half-forward role but often while doing that he is tasked with having to roll up to stoppages to be that extra man. Why not throw him in for a few centre bounces and see what it looks like? What the 25-year-old has shown is that he will give effort and intent. West Coast won’t be losing much should they roll the dice with that option. And anyone doubting if he will be up to the task should go and look at the highlights of what Murdock was able to do in his first two games. Few outside of the keen and astute WAFL observers could’ve predicted that. A midfield of Harley Reid, Tim Kelly, Yeo and Murdock up against Caleb Serong, Andy Brayshaw, Shai Bolton and Hayden Young — sounds like a good battle to me.