Former Premiership Eagle Peter Sumich says West Coast shouldn’t change the youthful approach they took with team selection after a positive display against Brisbane. 

West Coast showed plenty of spark and pep on Sunday afternoon despite losing to the Brisbane Lions by 19 points. 

Ahead of the match interim coach Jarrad Schofield made three unforced changed – bringing in Luke Edwards, Zane Trew and Ryan Maric in place of Campbell Chesser, Josh Rotham and veteran forward, Jack Darling. 

Young key defender Harry Edwards was also given his chance with Jeremy McGovern missing the weekend’s match with a punctured lung. 

Speaking to SportFM, Sumich commended Schofield for making these changes and says he wants to see more young players getting their chances.  

​“I didn’t think Brisbane were in any trouble. They just really didn’t take their chances at certain times,” he said.

“I thought the Eagles’ game was very positive. Well done with playing some of these players. 

“We want to see Harry Edwards play on the better players because that’s the future right now. Hutchinson kicking his first goal, Maric on the wing, that’s a positive. 

“All positives around, even though they didn’t win the game. That’s not the issue here. It’s about what we can see going forward.” 

After being a standout player in the Eagles WAFL side, Trew was given an opportunity to show his wares in his first full AFL game for the season. 

His WAFL form translated onto the field, finishing with 21 touches, eight tackles and five clearances. 

Sumich has praised Trew for his performance against a potent Lions’ midfield.

“Well done to selection on that. That’s all we’ve been asking (for),” he said.

“We haven’t been asking for anything major, but something like that to put a kid in and give him six or seven games and say here’s your chance.

“He had 20 odd touches. He had eight tackles, six score involvements. 

“That’s a pretty good game for a kid coming in under enormous pressure and then playing against a pretty good midfield as well.”

Looking ahead, West Coast will travel to Melbourne this weekend to play a 15th-ranked St Kilda side at Marvel Stadium.

Earlier in the season, Ross Lyon’s men handed West Coast a 14-point loss at Optus Stadium in Round 12.

Sumich says he wouldn’t change anything about the line up or Eagles’ approach heading into the season’s remaining fixtures. 

“We all need to see if Zane Trew can stay on this list and perform,” he said.

“If he performs consistently at that level he did yesterday, he’s a certainty to stay on the list. He didn’t look out of place. 

“He should only get better with more confidence in playing the role. Just stick with these kids and then just see what they’ve got to offer. 

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