AFL: Brady Hough to get chance as Ethan Hughes, Connor Blakely and Isiah Winder all named for tune-up

Brady Hough’s first West Coast Eagles outing has been confirmed, named in the club’s extended 31-man squad for its practice match with Fremantle on Friday. The former Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault Lion was taken by the club with pick 31 in last year’s draft after a stellar season at Peel Thunder during which he made his WAFL league debut. The 18-year-old has impressed on the track during preseason, so much so that Eagles legend Nic Naitanui described him as one of the club’s most exciting prospects. “Campbell Chesser . . . and young Brady Hough, a local kid from down south, have stood out among the younger kids,” Naitanui said. “Brady in particular is someone I’m excited to play alongside at some stage this year.” Former Eaton Boomers goal sneak Isiah Winder is also set to feature for the Eagles in the tune-up. It will be his first game with the Eagles’ senior group since his shock medical-sub debut against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium last year. Winder snuck forward and kicked a goal with his first disposal at league level during that game, before a knee injury derailed the rest of his campaign. The Eagles will be without a host of stars, including Luke Shuey, Liam Ryan, Tom Cole and the vaccine-hesitant Jack Darling for the tune-up, which is the first of two against the Dockers ahead of round one. For Fremantle, new draftee and Busselton-product Jye Amiss will miss the clash. The Dockers named their squad for the clash on Thursday, but Amiss was not among the 26-man group, ruled out as he recovers from soreness. Peter Bell told SEN WA earlier this week that the first-round prospect is likely to play in their second meeting with the Eagles in the AAMI Community Series. “Jye will be having some minutes I think not this week but next week in a practice match,” Bell said. “He’s just had some minor quad troubles through the preseason as you have an AFL volume put into you. “We’re looking forward to seeing more from Jye.” Fellow South West Dockers Connor Blakely and Ethan Hughes will feature in the match, while Bunbury-born Sandover medallist Bailey Rogers began training with the club on Thursday but will not play.