The West Coast Eagles tonight added a diverse range of skill and coverage through the midfield, defence and attack after securing four talented youngsters in tonight’s National Draft at the Adelaide Convention Centre.
The club claimed hard running South Australian midfielder Luke Partington with its opening selection, followed by Tom Cole (36), then secured another midfielder in Kurt Mutimer (57) before rounding out the process by nominating ruckman-forward Matthew Allen (62).
Partington is a hard-working midfielder from Norwood, has good speed and excellent endurance and was taken with the club’s first selection at No.28 after academy selections saw the club’s first opportunity slide from its original opening at 23.
Partington is adept both as an inside midfielder and on the spread from the contest. He is renowned for his composure under pressure and uses the ball efficiently off both sides of his body.
WATCH Luke Partington in action
He earned all-Australian selection through the national 18s championships and was a member of the NAB AFL Academy.
The 181cm, 77kg Partington averaged more than 26 possessions through the 2015 season and looms as another ball magnet who will eventually add his class and skill to the likes of Matt Priddis, Andrew Gaff, Luke Shuey, Dom Sheed and Chris Masten.
Cole, from Sandhurst in the Bendigo league, was the club’s second selection and has the capacity to play in the midfield or defence and like Partington was a part of the this year’s AFL Academy.
At 185cm and 80kg, he is a strong-bodied youngster and from a list perspective offers another dimension to the squad and although he can play through the engine room is considered more of a defender.
Mutimer, a left-footer from the Dandenong Stingrays is a penetrating left-footed midfielder who was part of the championship-winning Victoria Country line-up in the 18s carnival.
Allen stands at 192cm and is more likely to play as a key forward in the AFL, appealing as a strong lead-up target and is a reliable kick for goal.
