Top West Coast draftee Kayley Kavanagh has “no doubt in my mind” her reconstructed knee is ready for her long-awaited debut against Essendon on Sunday.

Kavanagh’s first season at the Eagles was over before it even started when she ruptured her ACL while playing for East Perth in the WAFLW after being recruited by the club with pick No.14 in 2023.

The 20-year-old midfielder will finally get her wings when the Eagles take on the Bombers at Windy Hill on Sunday afternoon.

“I don’t have any expectations on myself. I’m going to get out there and do my role and do that to the best of my ability,” Kavanagh told The West Australian.

“I do have a lot of confidence in my knee from all the work I’ve done. All the girls who have had previous knee injuries they’re all flying so there’s not really a doubt in my mind about it.

“It (the debut) means the world to me because to put so much work in for so long and all of the girls, getting to watch them play last year makes it that much more exciting to see all of the growth and finally getting a chance to put on the guernsey and represent and play with the team is going to be so good.”

Kavanagh will add to an exciting young midfield at the Eagles which is being spearheaded by star Ella Roberts as well as Jessica Rentsch, Bella Lewis and Alison Drennan.

Recruited from Calder Cannons and Vic Metro as a ball-winning inside midfielder, Kavanagh is renowned for her clean hands and pressure.

“I will be playing in the midfield. I’ll be doing it in short spurts, so I get a taste of it,” she said.

“And then hopefully being able to go off that and playing with such elite midfielders like Ella, Bella, Drenno and Rentschy, who has been playing in there a fair bit as well.

“It will be so cool to get out there and see what it’s like. I am not putting a heap of expectation on myself but more wanting to get some games under my belt hopefully.”

After an impressive 15-point win over Gold Coast to start their season, the Eagles come up against a confidence-filled Essendon, who kicked seven unanswered goals to smash Greater Western Sydney by 56 points in their season opener.

It was on the back of superstar Maddy Prespakis, who kicked a goal from 26 touches and seven clearances, while Georgia Nanscawen (25 touches and 10 tackles) and Steph Cain (21 touches) were also influential.

“They’ve got a strong midfield. They’re very physical which we’ve touched on going into the game.

“It’s about getting after the ball and being first to the footy … coming off the back of our Gold Coast game, we want to take it up another step.

“We’re very confident as a team and we should be with all the work we’ve put in. Hopefully we get to see the results from that.

“We’ve been working since March and getting to work on everything, all the nitty gritty and stuff people don’t want to do. We’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and keep building from there.”