Injury-hit Eagles hand No.1 rookie pick an AFL debut

West Coast will hand mid-season recruit Ryan Maric his AFL debut in Saturday’s clash with Adelaide as the Eagles battle an unprecedented injury crisis.

Maric was pick No.1 in last week’s rookie draft, and the 18-year-old forward has been rushed into the senior side for the game against the Crows after booting one goal from five disposals for the WAFL Eagles last Sunday.

West Coast’s injury woes hit a new low following last week’s 63-point loss to Collingwood, with the club’s injury list now standing at a staggering 21 players.

Only four of those - Luke Shuey, Jack Darling, Samo Petrevski-Seton and Luke Edwards - are a chance to return this week.

Maric shed 24 kilograms over the space of two years to help turn his AFL dream into reality.

“It’s just pretty surreal,” Maric told the club’s website.

“I only got drafted a week ago. I’ve only been here four or five days, so to go straight in pretty quickly it’s pretty crazy.

“I’m just over the moon. It’s all happened pretty quickly. I’m so happy.

“I’d like to think I’m a bit of a footy nuffy, so it’s going to be pretty surreal playing against some of the people I’ve been barracking for in Supercoach.“

Just two years ago Maric was playing for his local club in Drouin before committing to losing weight and giving himself the opportunity to play at the highest level.

He had developed back issues through a sudden growth spurt and was then struck down by glandular fever, before making strong progress with Gippsland Power in the Coates Talent League.

This year alone, he has played for Gippsland, Victoria Country, the Young Guns, Box Hill and the WAFL Eagles.

West Coast’s injury list is bulging at the seams, with key players such as Nic Naitanui, Jeremy McGovern, Jamie Cripps, Jamaine Jones, Tom Cole, Tom Barrass and Shannon Hurn among the walking wounded.

AAP