In the days leading up to the AFL draft Sporting News is taking a look at each club’s selections, needs, likely draftees and historical performance on draft day.
Do they like to load up on youth, or prefer to trade away early picks?
Will they lean towards home-grown talent or trust their systems to stop homesick kids leaving in a couple of years’ time?
And what’s on this year’s shopping list: talls, midfielders or a creative small forward?
WEST COAST EAGLES
Draft picks after the trade period: 20, 22, 61, 72, 76, 94
What West Coast needs
While the ruck may seem a pressing need after Scott Lycett’s departure and with Nic Naitanui to miss most of 2019, Tom Hickey’s arrival as the next in a long line of fill ins will stop the Eagles from using an early selection on a big guy.
The anticipated arrival of Tim Kelly in 11 months time takes a bit of pressure off finding midfield guns, the defence is rock solid and Liam Ryan and Willie Rioli are developing nicely as creative, high-pressure forwards.
So everything looks rosy – but that always tends to be the case with any team when they’re the reigning premier.
Josh Kennedy is as dangerous as ever, but he’s 31 and the Eagles may be wanting to start looking at a succession plan. Unfortunately there’s not a lot of key forward options available when they get their first choice.
West Coast’s likely draftees
A ready-to-go small forward and midfielder in the making, Ian Hill is a local who could be available at pick 20 if Fremantle doesn’t pull the trigger early at 14. Hill’s an exciting line-breaker who can do things others can’t and would be good value.
Not many other West Australians will be on the radar early in the second round so the Eagles will need to look east.
Standing at 186cm Curtis Taylor isn’t a key forward, but he’s good overhead and can present a target while also mobile enough to run through the midfield.
South Australian under-18 captain Luke Valente could be around too and has the type of maturity all clubs value, as well as being adept at getting his hands on the ball.
West Coast’s draft history 1986 – 2017
Number of top-20 selections: 41
Average games played at the Eagles by top-20 selections: 90.7
Most games played for the Eagles by a top-20 selection
270 Darren Glass (pick 11, 1999)
265 Drew Banfield (pick 1, 1992)
253 Peter Matera (pick 4, 1989)
Most games played for the Eagles by later selections
276 Glen Jakovich (zone selection 1990)
250 Andrew Embley (pick 57, 1998)
243 Dean Kemp (additional pick, 1989)
Most games played by rookie draft selections:
290 Dean Cox (2000)
238 Matt Priddis (2006)
In AFL draft history West Coast has …
… done very nicely from the rookie draft. Matt Priddis (2006) Is the only player to win a Brownlow Medal after starting their career from the rookie draft, while Dean Cox (2000) has been named All Australian more times than any other rookie (six times: 2005-2008, 2011, 2012).
Chad Fletcher (drafted 1998, 179 games, All Australian 2004, premiership side 2006), Quinten Lynch (drafted 2002, 198 games, premiership side 2006), Mark Nicoski (2003, 112 games), Brett Jones (drafted 2004, 102 games, premiership side 2006) and Jeremy McGovern (2011 draft, 103 games, three-time All Australian 2016-2018, premiership player 2018) have also proved pretty handy.