The West Coast Eagles tonight scored top marks at the AFL National Draft, adding four quality young players with a diverse range of skills at the Gold Coast Convention Centre.
The club secured a draft nugget when it landed classy midfielder Liam Duggan with its first selection at #11 and followed up with Tom Lamb, Jackson Nelson and Damien Cavka.
In addition Alec Waterman, a father-son selection, was officially aligned to the club although his position on the list was announced some weeks ago. Waterman is the eldest son of dual premiership player Chris Waterman.
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Every year, clubs express their delight at the draft outcome, but the West Coast recruiters were delighted with the result.
“We are really pleased with the outcome,” said National Recruiting Manager Rohan O’Brien. “We think each of the boys brings outstanding credentials and will fill needs that we have on our list.
“In that respect, we are delighted. We have been able to fill round holes with round pegs and all of the boys can really run, which is a prerequisite at Patersons Stadium.
“Liam is a great leader who can play both in defence and in the midfield, Tom is very versatile with good endurance, Jackson has great skills off both sides of his body and Damien has elite endurance.”
Duggan is a quality distributor of the football who has played in defence and through the midfield with the Western Jets and was taken with the club’s first selection.
Duggan was excited to be secured by West Coast and is looking forward to winning the respect of his new teammates.
“I was just rapt to hear my name called and even happier that it was West Coast,” a smiling Duggan said. “I can’t wait to get over there and start training.
“I am looking forward to getting stuck in and to win the respect of my teammates. I can’t wait to train alongside guys like Matt Priddis and Scott Selwood. It’s great to go the club with the current Brownlow medallist.
“I have been to Perth a few times because I have had family over there and I’m excited about the move.”
O’Brien said the club was delighted to secure Duggan, who won the AFL Academy Ben Mitchell Medal, as voted by his peers, for his outstanding leadership, performance and professionalism.
“Liam provides a skill set that will complement our senior list,” O’Brien said. “He works hard, plays a number of different roles and uses the ball very effectively.
“He is an impressive leader and we think he was one of the most exciting prospects in the draft pool. Indeed all of the players we have drafted are very exciting prospects and we look forward to them each fulfilling their potential at the club.”
Lamb is a tall midfielder (193cm), with a good mix of speed and endurance, who can play forward as well. He hails from the Dandenong Stingrays and could develop into a strong-bodied midfielder.
Nelson is a running half-back with exquisite skills off both sides of his body. From the Geelong Falcons it is anticipated that he could also evolve into a midfielder of quality.
Cavka, from the Calder Canons, boasts elite endurance and could play midfield and as a high half forward.
