On a night that was all about names, the West Coast Eagles dropped some of the biggest at the 2016 National Draft from Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion.

The club re-connected with a family that has strong ties to it, recruited another name that generates excitement at the mere mention of it and at the same time added great attributes to the club’s playing list.

Jake Waterman, the second son of West Coast star and dual premiership player Chris Waterman, and Willie Rioli, another exciting forward from fine football lineage, were among those secured by the Eagles.

After snaring exciting midfielder Daniel Venables with the club’s first selection (No.13), the recruiting staff then locked in West Perth utility player Josh Rotham and followed up with Rioli (#52), from St Mary’s and Glenelg.

Waterman, whose older brother Alec was on the club’s list for two years before being struck down with glandular fever, is a rangy forward and was the steal of the draft, the Eagles using pick 77 to land the emerging star who played senior football with Claremont this year.

That selection is not reflective of his talent, but merely a result of rivals not wanting to enter into a bidding war with the Eagles.

Venables is a medium-sized midfielder who can also push forward and is dangerous around goals.

From the Western Jets, he is a classy play-maker who will add to the club’s depth through the middle of the ground.

He was secured with selection No.13 after West Coast’s first pick was pushed back from pick 12 because of a bid by Carlton for GWS academy player Will Setterfield.

That meant the Giants, who forfeited other selections later in the ballot, vaulted up the order, forcing others down the list.

With its second selection the club secured Rotham, a versatile utility player from West Perth.

The 192cm Rotham has played a lot of his football in defence, but has an ability to play through the midfield and push forward, attributes that excited the club’s recruiting staff.

At selection 52, the Eagles snared gifted small forward Rioli and then rounded out the night by formally locking in Waterman after nominating him as a father/son selection ahead of the draft.

National recruiting manager Rohan O’Brien was delighted with the players the club secured.

“We went in with the strategy of picking the best available talent at every selection and we are absolutely thrilled with the way it panned out,” O’Brien said.

“We have been able to strengthen our squad in all areas of the ground with Daniel being able to impact midfield and forward, Josh is a genuine utility player, Willie is a dangerous small forward and Jake is another accomplished attacking player.

“We are excited by the attributes they all bring and look forward to seeing them at our club.”