Western Bulldogs midfielder Lin Jong has been named to make his long-awaited AFL return from a knee reconstruction against the West Coast Eagles at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

It will be Jong’s first game since he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the Dogs’ Round 13 loss to Melbourne last year.

He kicked two goals in Footscray’s loss to Geelong in a VFL practice match last Sunday, after showing impressive signs in the JLT Community Series.

Running defender Ed Richards, selected by the Bulldogs with pick 16 in the 2017 AFL National Draft, is a chance to make his AFL debut after being named on an extended interchange bench.

Mitch Wallis, Tom Boyd, Tory Dickson, Lukas Webb and Caleb Daniel have also been named in the squad, with the final 22 to be named at 5pm on Friday.

The Dogs have two forced changes, with midfielder Tom Liberatore, who ruptured his ACL in the loss to GWS, and defender Hayden Crozier (knee) unavailable, while Fletcher Roberts has been omitted.

The Bulldogs and Eagles will go head-to-head from 3.20pm at Etihad Stadium. 

IN: M. Wallis, T. Boyd, L. Webb, E. Richards, T. Dickson, C. Daniel, L. Jong
OUT: H. Crozier (knee), F. Roberts (omitted), T. Liberatore (knee)