Popular West Coast Eagles stalwart Fraser McInnes has been endorsed to claim a special place in club history after been named as captain of the club’s WAFL team.

The athletic forward-ruckman will lead the inaugural West Coast WAFL team that will compete for the first time against new neighbours, Perth, in the opening round on Saturday, April 6 at Mineral Resources Park.

McInnes, who has been at the club since being drafted in 2011, will be looking to build on his 14 AFL games, but is chuffed to be skipper of the club’s WAFL team. Marquee recruit Brady Grey is vice-captain while two players added to the list from amateur ranks – Andrew Fisher (Kingsley) and Liam Robilliard (Scarborough) – round out the leadership group.

McInnes said he was really excited to lead the WAFL Eagles.

“It gives me a little bit of ownership and purpose, which I’m very grateful for,” McInnes said.

“I was really proud when Webby told me I would be skipper. I have played under him for a couple of years, so we have a close relationship and I’m really looking forward to it growing.

“The process has been as smooth as it possibly can be. We will have AFL-listed players playing and WAFL sign-ons playing; they have been doing the pre-season, but filtering through to our main training sessions and they do not look out of place.

“We have only one sample size, a practice game against Peel, but I think the spirit of the boys was great, the whole group came together and we looked great in the West Coast colours. It was really energising.

“It’s important that the WAFL side is performing well, particularly at finals time, you want both grades playing. Creating a winning culture is important, West Coast is a proud club, with a good winning culture and we need to keep that going at WAFL level.”