West Coast have axed 200cm defender Harry Edwards despite being without five-time All-Australian Jeremy McGovern for their clash against premiership fancies Greater Western Sydney on Sunday.

It means debutant Sandy Brock is set to get the monster task of trying to stop Coleman medallist Jesse Hogan at ENGIE Stadium.

Edwards was the only omissions from the team that lost the western derby last weekend, with McGovern (groin), Elijah Hewett (calf) and Liam Ryan (illness) all unavailable.

They’ve been replaced by three debutants in Brock, Hamish Davis and Tom Gross, while midfielder Clay Hall has also been recalled after a strong performance against Brisbane in round two when he had 15 disposals and seven clearances.

Edwards’ dropping comes after he was subbed out of the defeat to Fremantle at the weekend when Josh Treacy kicked three goals in the second term.

The 24-year-old has gone through a tough start to the year with Gold Coast spearhead Ben King booting six majors on him in round one.

It’s a blow for the Swan Districts product, who signed a three-year contract extension with the Eagles last year with the club hoping he could fill the hole left by departing vice-captain Tom Barrass to Hawthorn.

At 198cm, Brock will be the tallest defender in the Eagles’ backline and will likely have to take on former Fremantle and Melbourne forward Hogan who returned from a broken thumb last week to kick four goals against Hawthorn in Launceston.

Brock spent three years on Gold Coast’s list but could not break through for a game and only joined the Eagles in February through the pre-Season supplementary selection period.

Forward-turned-defender Ryan Maric will also likely have to play above his size as a key defender, while Reuben Ginbey (191cm) and Brady Hough (191cm) will also have to contribute.

Out-of-form co-captain Oscar Allen could also be swung back, having done so in the last quarter of the western derby after the injury to McGovern.

GWS v WEST COAST

Sunday, ENGIE STADIUM, 11.10am

GIANTS

B: C Idun S Taylor H Himmelberg

HB: L Whitfield J Buckley L Ash

C: F Callaghan J Kelly S Coniglio

HF: T Greene J Stringer B Daniels

F: D Jones J Hogan A Cadman

FOLL: K Briggs T Bedford T Green

I/C: X O’Halloran C Stone C Ward J Wehr J Riccardi

EMG: L Keeffe C Brown T McMuillin

IN: J Riccardi

OUT: L Keeffe (omitted)

EAGLES

B: B Hough S Brock R Ginbey

HB: L Baker R Maric T Cole

C: L Duggan J Graham J Hunt

HF: T Brockman A Reid M Owies

F: J Cripps O Allen N Long

FOLL: B Williams H Reid T Kelly

I/C: T Gross C Hall J Williams H Davis T Dewar

EMG: H Edwards L Rawlinson H Johnston

IN: S Brock T Gross C Hall H Davis

OUT: J McGovern (groin) L Ryan (illness) E Hewett (calf) H Edwards (omitted)