Milan Murdock: West Coast Eagles to hand debut to mature-age SSP signing for season opener against Gold Coast

Just two weeks ago, Milan Murdock wasn’t on an AFL list. Now, he’s locked in to play in West Coast’s season opener. The Eagles have pulled a selection shock, handing their mature-age pre-season signing a debut in Sunday’s season opener against Gold Coast. The West Australian can reveal Murdock will take on the Suns at People First Stadium, with the match to take place just 17 days after he landed a spot on the Eagles’ list through the pre-season supplemental selection period. Murdock was signed to the Eagles after small forward Noah Long was ruled out for the season with a knee injury, opening up a spot on their list days out from the SSP deadline. The 25-year-old had long been on the radar of the Eagles, having put together a stellar career at East Fremantle where he is a three-time Simpson medallist and premiership player. Last week, Eagles coach Andrew McQualter told The West Sport Show said he expected Murdock to be up to the task of playing AFL this year. “It’s been a whirlwind of course, as you’d expect. He’s completed his full pre-season with his WAFL club and then gets a phone call right at the end, then steps straight in and played in our WAFL practice match,” he said. “Milan is 25 years old, so he’s a bit more experienced in life and he’s been brilliant since he walked into the door. “He’s a bundle of energy. He’s pro, you can see that about the way he prepares himself and the way he thinks about his football. He’s going to have a huge impact on our group, and I’m really excited we could give him an opportunity. “We wouldn’t have taken him if we didn’t think he was a chance of being an AFL footballer this year and for the future as well. I don’t know when or what that looks like but certainly that was our thoughts when we took him.” West Coast are expected to name several AFL and club debutants, led by first-round draftees Willem Duursma, Cooper Duff-Tytler and Josh Lindsay as well as Brisbane recruit Deven Robertson and Richmond addition Tylar Young. West Coast haven’t won a season opener with multiple AFL debutants in the line-up since 2011, when Andrew Gaff and Jack Darling were blooded in a four-point victory over North Melbourne.