AFL
Eagles young star set for positional shake-up in 2026
Elijah Hewett looks set to be squeezed out of West Coast’s new-look midfield in what looms as a make-or-break year for the luckless first-round draftee.
Unofficial statistics from the Eagles’ match simulation defeat to Fremantle show Hewett didn’t attend one centre bounce, while at training he worked alongside the wingmen and high half forwards instead of stoppage work under assistant coach Luke Shuey.
It is a stark contrast to the 21-year-old’s role under Andrew McQualter last season, when he attended the fourth most centre bounces of any Eagle behind only ruckman Matt Flynn, Harley Reid and Tim Kelly.