Senior coach Michael Prior says West Coast was excited to draft the most talented players coming through the WAFLW system ahead of the team’s fourth season in the AFLW competition. 

The club will welcome number one draft pick Ella Roberts, Abigail Bushby, twin sisters Zoe and Lauren Wakfer and Claremont products Emily Elkinginton and Mikayla Western, and Jaide Britton.

Also joining the squad will be developing tall Eleanor Hartill as an inactive replacement player for injured draftee Lauren Wakfer.

“We obviously had a really strong draft hand going in, so we pretty much knew how it was going to play out, so yeah really happy and the girls are all at the club and started training,” Prior told SEN WA.

“We had the first three picks in the draft before Fremantle, so we targeted the most talented players coming though the WAFLW system.”

While WA pick number five, Zoe Wakfer, came as a surprise to many - including Zoe and twin sister Lauren - securing a tall defender was a much-needed addition to the side. 

“We knew we were going to take her leading in and we just thought for her the element of surprise was something she was going to look back on for years and remember that night,” Prior said.

“When her name got called out it was a bit of a shock for all but both sisters were absolutely wrapped and had a great couple of days in Melbourne.”

The girls are putting the work in and I’m really proud of how they are going about it at the moment

Season seven of the AFLW season is due to start on Saturday, August 27 with Eagles taking on newly formed Port Adelaide at home. 

Prior said the team have been working hard on the track and he is excited to see that come out in round one in front of a home crowd.

Being one of the youngest sides in the competition, Prior said the group are showing signs they are there to work and improve with the playing group showing no lack of effort at training.

“We could have easily had three wins for us last year which would have been the most we’ve had in a season since we’ve been in the competition,” he said.

“I think if we show some signs of improvement, we’ve got a good chance with the draw we’ve been given.

“The girls are putting the work in and I’m really proud of how they are going about it at the moment.”