West Coast recruit Harry Schoenberg won’t get the chance for a first-up debut with his new club in round one unless he can overturn a one-match ban stemming from Sunday’s pre-season loss to Port Adelaide.

Schoenberg was cited for striking in the final term of the Eagles’ hefty defeat, when he felled Logan Evans with a forearm while jostling for position during a boundary throw-in.

The incident was assessed as intentional with body contact and medium impact, resulting in a one-game suspension that can’t be reduced with an early guilty plea.

West Coast have until Tuesday morning to weigh up whether to fight the ban.

The Eagles on Sunday had Harry Edwards’ availability for next Sunday’s season opener against Gold Coast called into question after the key defender suffered a concussion against the Power.

The WA club will be without co-captain Liam Baker for that clash as he serves a suspension stemming from the final match of last year, while a cloud remains over the likes of Brandon Starcevich (calf), Liam Duggan (head knock), Reuben Ginbey (toe) and experienced pair Jack Graham and Tim Kelly (hamstring).

Schoenberg has over summer pressed his case for an early-season call-up. The Adelaide recruit had 13 disposals and two clearances against the Power, having been used in a variety of roles through the middle of the ground and across half-forward over recent weeks.

The strong pre-season has thrust the 25-year-old among as many as seven players firmly in the frame to make their Eagles debuts in the early part of the year. Fellow recruits Brandon Starcevich, Tylar Young and Deven Robertson are widely considered to be best-23 players, while first-round draft trio Willem Duursma, Cooper Duft-Tytler and Josh Lindsay could all be blooded against Gold Coast.

The Eagles are considered a $12.50 long-shot by bookmakers to upset the Suns at People First Stadium as they chase their first win in a season opener since 2021.

Meanwhile, Hawthorn will head to the AFL tribunal in a bid to have co-captain Jai Newcombe cleared to play in their Opening Round clash with GWS.

Newcombe will challenge his one-match suspension for rough conduct, handed out over a tackle on Western Bulldogs opponent Ed Richards.

Richards had one arm pinned by Newcombe but wasn’t seriously hurt, getting up quickly to take his free kick and playing out the rest of last Friday night’s practice match.

The incident was graded careless conduct, medium impact and high contact by the match review officer.

The tackle could have been graded low impact, but the MRO has the option to elevate the force grading based on potential to cause serious injury.

The Hawks may attempt to have the impact downgraded at Tuesday night’s tribunal hearing, in their efforts to avoid another huge blow to their midfield stocks.

In the practice match broadcast, former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley and Melbourne great Garry Lyon both said they expected Newcombe to escape suspension, though Lyon felt there were grounds for a ban.

“(It) ticks a lot of boxes for a suspension apart from the fact he (Richards) got up and played on,” Lyon said on Fox Footy.

“I know we ask a lot. But the way it’s described to us is he has to identify he has one arm where he can’t move and he takes him to ground and his head hits the ground.

“From that point of view, a lot of those boxes were ticked. But the fact that Ed Richards jumps up and plays on suggests he’ll be OK.”