AFLW: Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) Eagles defender Evie Gooch given farewell match after announcing retirement

Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) defender Evie Gooch has been handed a farewell game after announcing her retirement this week.

The former Dockers player has been added to the Eagles’ side for their clash with Sydney on Saturday, replacing the injured Beth Schilling.

Gooch has played just three matches this season and hasn’t appeared since playing in both of the club’s double-header in week four. She also played the season-opener against Richmond.

The veteran is one of three inclusions for Daisy Pearce’s side in their final game of the season.

Defender Belinda Smith was passed fit to face Geelong on Saturday but was not picked and has now been added to the team with Sasha Goranova.

Young defender Schilling, who has enjoyed a breakout season, will miss with concussion after showing delayed symptoms this week and the Eagles have dropped both Verity Simmons and Octavia Di Donato, who have both spent the year in and out of the side.

Jessica Rentsch, who did her ankle in the western derby against Fremantle, will miss a third straight week, putting an end to her debut campaign.

“I’m really proud of my career, and I think that it was more than just a footy career,” Gooch said when she announced her retirement on Wednesday.

“I’m really grateful to be in the position where I was able to help the AFLW get to where it is now, and hopefully it grows even further from here.”

Sydney have made a raft of changes for their final game of the season. The Swans have named Rugby Sargent-Wilson, Lara Hausegger, Montana Beruldsen, Holly Cooper and Kiara Hillier in place of Maddy Collier, Alice Mitchell, Lisa Steane, Aimee Whelan and Paige Sheppard.