West Coast Eagles top 2016 AFL Draft pick Daniel Venables is starting to feel more comfortable playing senior football.

Venables had not played a game in more than four months when he arrived at the club in November and was immediately put on a restricted training program to help him overcome a minor stress injury in his foot.

While many would have wallowed in self-pity, the tenacious midfielder remained patient, completed his rehabilitation and came out the other end to play his first game – an East Perth reserves pre-season match – in March.

Venables has played restricted minutes in his four matches to date, but the exciting 18-year-old hopes to play a full game in the not too distant future.

He collected 13 disposals, two goals and stuck two tackles in just his second WAFL league outing against Claremont on Friday night.

“I’m still finding my fitness,” Venables said post-match.

“Footy fitness doesn’t come quickly, so I’m just ticking along and building up my playing minutes. I played 80 minutes today. Hopefully I’ll be off restricted minutes soon and can just play free footy.”

Venables and his East Perth midfield colleagues fought bravely against Claremont’s centre division and halved most of the critical statistical battlegrounds at Leederville Oval.

But the Tigers were cleaner when the ball hit the deck and used their fast feet to transition the ball from defence to attack and hurt the Royals on the scoreboard.

Venables said he felt East Perth matched it with Claremont for most of game.

“I felt like we played good footy, it was just that second quarter that let us down,” Venables said.

“They kicked six goals, which definitely changed the game.

“I felt like we won the midfield battle today. I think we won the clearances, so we did okay in that sense. It was probably just our transition from defence to offence that hurt us.

“Probably the last three games the scoreboard hasn’t given us justice. We’re a young side, so there is a lot to work on.

“It’s disappointing, but the good thing about footy is that we’ve got next week to bounce back.”