West Coast landed its top-three targets in this year’s rookie draft upon recruiting Ryan Burrows, Tony Olango and Callan England to the club this afternoon.
The Eagles selected versatile South Fremantle forward Ryan Burrows with its first pick (13) in the rookie draft.
Burrows, who only joined the WAFL system this year, averaged 15.5 disposals, 3.6 marks and 2.1 tackles per game through 12 matches with the Bulldogs’ colts team this year.
The 19-year-old has speed to burn and is composed with the ball in hand. He kicked 10 goals in 2017, even after missing pre-season training and the first nine games of the year.
West Coast’s second pick-up, Olango, spent this season playing for Northern Territory Thunder in the NEAFL and NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
He also played a match for Hawthorn's VFL affiliate Box Hill in the AFL Victoria development league in July.
Olango boasts a rare combination of speed and spring for someone who stands at a towering 201cm.
The club’s final draftee, England, was among Claremont’s most consistent under age players in 2017.
A state junior athletics champion, England averaged 12.9 disposals in the Tigers’ engine room and played all four matches in Western Australia’s successful NAB AFL Under-18 Championships campaign.
Former West Coast Eagles champion forward and WA senior coach Peter Sumich reckoned England played a lot like 2015 John Worsfold medallist Andrew Gaff.
“I’ve seen Gaff first hand when he first came to West Coast and this kid has got a lot of Gaff about him with his running capacity,” Sumich told Trade Radio in the lead up to the draft.
“He’s fairly light, more outside than inside, but in today’s game it’s a running game and this kid can run.
“I see a lot of Gaff in him. (He’s a) right-footer but, and probably the same type of kick in the sense of what Gaff is.”