Premiership midfielder Chris Masten has been axed ahead of West Coast’s road game against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.

Masten has missed just one game since the start of last season, carving out a spot on the wing as a gut-running veteran.

But the 205-gamer has made way for young forward Jake Waterman, paying the price for a poor start to the season.

Masten’s 12 touches in Saturday night’s narrow win over Gold Coast was his second lowest return this year, just beating his 11 against Brisbane in round one.

He butchered the ball and only laid just one tackle.

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Camera Icon Chris Masten looks set to miss for West Coast. Credit: Daniel Wilkins

It was another sub-par performance from the 30-year-old, who hasn’t got more than 21 disposals in his seven matches in 2019.

Waterman has booted 13 goals in three WAFL outings and was a joint-leader of the Bernie Naylor Medal before missing last weekend’s clash with a hamstring complaint.

“He deserves a go, and we’ll set up slightly differently this week,” Eagles coach Adam Simpson said of Waterman.

“We’re just trying to get the right balance to our side at the moment.

“We’re working through a few things. There was an improvement on the weekend, but we’re still working towards our best football.

“Obviously he’s disappointed, but he knows where he’s at. He’s got some things to work on, as has the team.”

Simpson said he was happy to give Waterman another chance for the first time since the season-opening loss to Brisbane.

“He played Round 1, but that wasn’t a great day for all of our players,” he said.

“But he went back to the WAFL and I think he kicked five goals, five goals, missed a week with a hamstring, kicked three, missed another week and now he’s back in the seniors this week.

“We’ve got him obviously playing forward in the front half this week. We just want him playing at his best.”

Ruckman Tom Hickey will miss for a second straight week after he was a late withdrawal from last weekend’s win over the Suns with hamstring tightness.

Midfielder Brendon Ah Chee and untried defender Harry Edwards have also made the trip as travelling emergencies.

Ah Chee had a game-high 32 touches and 10 clearances, as well as a huge mark in the third quarter, despite the Eagles Reserves’ hefty loss to South Fremantle.

St Kilda has axed three players, including East Fremantle product Jonathon Marsh, Hunter Clark and Darragh Joyce as they look to snap a two-game losing streak.

Defender Nathan Brown, Luke Dunstan and Ed Phillips come back into the side.

More to come