RECRUITING manager Trevor Woodhouse speaks with westcoasteagles.com.au about the outcomes of the 2008 NAB AFL Draft.

Draft summary
"We came here with intent to get good players and that was really the bottom line. All these kids are talented, and we had a bit of a focus on some midfield guys with some pace.

"We've certainly added some pace to the group, but they've still got to get hold of the footy.

"In an ideal world, you like to get a number of Western Australians, but that's the way it is these days. There seems to be a liking from the east for our guys in the west, and there's nothing you can do about that.

"Melbourne took two Western Australians before us with picks 35 and 51, so I don't know if we had our table bugged or what.

"We're overall pretty happy, but everybody is at this time of year. Ask me again in a couple of years – if I'm not sitting here, then I wasn't happy."

Selection No. 2: Nicholas Naitanui
Swan Districts/Midvale JFC, WA, Ruckman, May 4, 1990, 200cm, 95kg
"He's just an exciting player. He's got a fair bit to learn, like they all do at that size, but he's pretty astonishing with what he can do. We don't expect him to change the course of the world next year because he's not Superman – he's only 18 years old. It's important to let him develop along with all these other guys, although these guys that are selected early unfortunately have a massive pressure on them – so it's a bit tough."

Selection No. 18: Luke Shuey
Oakleigh Chargers/Marcellin College, VIC, Midfielder, June 2, 1990, 185cm, 84kg
"We were pretty impressed with Luke's year. He was probably one of the more consistent performers, and he can be a little bit unobtrusive – he's probably a bit more in-and-under. He had a fantastic under-18s carnival and we just see him complementing the young midfield kids we've already got. He'll be more than handy."

Selection No. 20: Tom Swift
Claremont/Swanbourne JFC, SA, Midfielder, July 6, 1990, 190cm, 84cm
"Swifty could be a risk – although every kid could be called a risk – as he's coming off a knee from 2007 when he had an ACL, and then he had a second knee that was jarring and a slight ligament strain after that. He could have played the last four or five games this year but the doctors advised him not to worry about that and get himself right. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise that he hasn't been belted like some of these kids are at this age.

"He's six-foot-three but he's got a good tank and he's very quick – he could also be the Prime Minister, he's that talented."

Selection No. 36: Ashley Smith
Dandenong Stingrays/Berwick FC, VIC, Medium midfielder, June 20, 1990, 185cm, 84kg
"We watched him play for a couple of years and he's an AIS kid, has played two years for Dandenong in the TAC Cup and played with Vic Metro this year. He's powerfully built and is quick over 20m, which is handy when you can get hold of the footy. He was a running half-back, sometimes forward for Vic Metro. We've got to relocate him now, which is the big challenge as with all the guys we get from interstate."

Selection No. 52: Jordan Jones
Geelong Falcons/Ocean Grove FC, Tall defender, June 29, 1990, 190cm, 90kg
"He started the year really well and then dropped away a bit. He hurt his shoulder in late May and he had it reconstructed, so he played with some discomfort for half of the year. He's a mid-sized utility type and probably plays more back than forward but can go forward. He's strong overhead and over the footy; he's happy to stand under it and put his head over it, and we see him as a player that has a fair bit of upside.

"He came from down past Geelong and he maybe hasn't had the training or conditioning of some these young guys, but we're more than happy with him."