Champion forward Josh Kenney won't be risked for Wests Coast's season-opener at the Gabba due to injury and fitness concerns.
Although the battle-scarred veteran was 'desperate' to take the field, coach Adam Simpson confirmed that medical staff were hesitant to give the all clear until he felt 100 per cent.
The dual Coleman medallist will instead make his 200th West Coast appearance when the club unfurl their 2018 premiership flag at Optus Stadium next week.
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“He won’t play. He’s desperate to play and I’m desperate to play him, but the recommendation is that he doesn’t play," Simpson told reporters on Thursday afternoon.
"But the recommendation is that we rest him up for another week and keep building that conditioning.
"I just needed a green light and I would've played him.
"I was willing to take a few risks, but I think we've got to back in the collective, and the decision was we're not going to play him."
“He won’t play. He’s desperate to play and I’m desperate to play him, but the recommendation is that he doesn’t play.”
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) March 21, 2019
Adam Simpson declares that Josh Kennedy won’t play round one. pic.twitter.com/XdXh91VnVp
With Patrick Chipps scheduled to return in round three and Willie Rioli in doubt, Simpson has opened the door for second year player Oscar Allen, Jarrod Brander and Jack Petruccelle. The young trio have only six AFL games between them.
While Brander is set for his second career start in the defensive line, Allen and Petruccelle will lead the relatively inexperienced forward pack.
"We've got (Jack) Darling who is 25 and 26, and everyone else is 20 or 21, which is really exciting for us, it's going to be new, it's going to be different," Simpson said.
"Our backline and our midfield are pretty solid, pretty stable, but our front half will be a bit like the start of last year, there will be a lot of youth in our front half."
The West Coast Eagles will kick off their premiership defence against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday, March 23 at the Gabba.
