West Coast Eagles will be bolstered by the addition of more than 340 games’ worth of experience for their Good Friday clash with Essendon, with Tim Kelly and Jeremy McGovern set to return.

And the pair of club champions are not the only additions for the Eagles, as young gun Elijah Hewett and ruckman Matt Flynn have also been handed recalls as part of four changes.

Kelly returns after a one-week sojourn in the WAFL following his shock axing, while McGovern has been passed fit after missing the past fortnight with a groin injury.

Hewett has come back in for his fourth game of the season after overcoming a calf complaint, while Flynn’s return comes at the expense of fellow ruck Bailey Williams.

Young midfielder Clay Hall and tall defender Sandy Brock have also been omitted after West Coast earlier announced co-captain Oscar Allen would be ‘managed’ for the Bombers clash at Optus Stadium due to a heavy workload.

The key forward did not train on Wednesday or Thursday and Eagles general manager of football Gavin Bell said they were wary of overloading him following back-to-back six-day breaks.

Hewett has been included on the initial five-man interchange alongside Tyler Dewar, Ryan Maric, Tom Gross and Hamish Davis.

On-baller Kelly’s one-game absence from the AFL side coincided with the Eagles’ midfield getting destroyed at the coalface by Carlton, who won the clearance count 40-18 while West Coast also recorded the league’s lowest-ever contested-ball tally of 77.

Kelly tallied 20 disposals, 10 inside-50’s and five tackles in West Coast’s WAFL loss to Subiaco and his return should provide some experience and quality to a midfield which desperately-needed it.

West Coast’s under-fire defence will also be boosted by the return of reigning club champion McGovern, whose quick recovery from a groin injury will relieve some of the pressure on fellow key defender Harry Edwards.

Essendon have named tall forward Peter Wright, who comes in for the injured Nick Bryan as the only change for the Bombers.

Brock and Williams are among the emergencies alongside Noah Long, while youngster Lucca Grego will spend another week in the WAFL despite an impressive showing against Subiaco.

WEST COAST LINE-UP

B: R Ginbey H Edwards B Hough

HB: L Duggan J McGovern L Baker

C: J Hutchinson J Graham J Hunt

HF: L Ryan J Waterman J Cripps

F: J Williams A Reid M Owies

FOLL: M Flynn T Kelly H Reid

I/C: E Hewett R Maric T Groos H Davis T Dewar

EMG: N Long B Williams S Brock

In: J McGovern M Flynn T Kelly E Hewett

Out: S Brock (Omitted) C Hall (Omitted) O Allen (Managed) B Williams (Omitted)