West Coast coach Andrew McQualter concedes he has been playing Elijah Hewett in the wrong role, resulting in the 21-year-old being told to find form in the WAFL.
Hewett has been dropped for Sunday's clash with Melbourne at Marvel Stadium after tallying just eight disposals in last week's upset loss to Richmond.
That performance came two weeks after Hewett was held to just three disposals in a western derby loss to Fremantle.
Hewett missed the start of the season due to a quad injury and has been playing largely in an unfamiliar half-forward role since coming into the team in round five.
West Coast still view Hewett as an important cog in their future, but say the No.14 pick from the 2022 draft now needs a stint in the WAFL playing as a genuine midfielder.
"We probably brought him into the team in a role that's not completely familiar for Elijah, and we just know how valuable he is for us and our future," McQualter said on Friday.
"So he's just probably not quite been able to get to the form we wanted in that role, in the forward role.
"His strengths are in the midfield. So we're going to send him back to the WAFL ... we're going to send him back to the midfield and really build his capacity.
"We've got a lot of belief that he'll become the player we need him to become."
Hewett is out of contract at the end of this season and, while West Coast have reportedly tabled him a five-year contract extension, some Melbourne-based clubs are circling.
West Coast (2-6) are on a five-game losing run, but have been bolstered by the return of key defender Harry Edwards this week.
Edwards hasn't featured at AFL level since being concussed early in the round-two win over North Melbourne.
It was the second time in a matter of weeks Edwards was concussed, and he is set to don a helmet when he lines up against the Demons.
Harvey Johnston and Jack Hutchinson also come into the team, with Hewett, Harry Schoenberg (omitted) and Matt Owies (calf) going out.
The Demons (5-3) have recalled Jake Bowey for the first time since he underwent foot surgery in December, but forward Brody Mihocek misses with a hamstring injury.
The Eagles already have an eye on their round-11 match against Collingwood at the MCG in a fortnight, when Scott Pendlebury is set to notch game No.433 - a new AFL/VFL record.
"Sorry Scott, we'll try and ruin your day," McQualter said tongue in cheek.
"I've known Scott since he was a very young boy. We grew up near each other.
"He's had such an amazing career. It'll be a special occasion to be a part of that day, and we should celebrate it."
