Until last night it was just a number; a fluctuating number in the 40s, but now it has an identity.
With its first selection in the AFL Draft, the West Coast Eagles put a name to what became No.49 under a floating order that is affected by academy selections, bid matching and live trading .
That number means nothing any more, but Callum Jamieson, the athletic young man who was secured with the Eagles' first pick, is planning to be a name to remember.
So, too, are the other young draftees, who in the last 24 hours have transitioned from second tier and junior football into the elite environment.
West Perth defender Ben Johnson, Claremont liverwire Anthony Treacy and Tasmanian midfielder Mitch O’Neill are all excited about earning an AFL opportunity.
And the club is excited to have them.
Their arrival at Mineral Resources Park – along with that of the highly-touted Tim Kelly – puts the exclamation mark on a highly successful off-season recruiting drive.
The Eagles’ entry in the ballot came at pick 49 because of what it needed to offer Geelong in compensation for bringing Kelly to the club.
To have a young man of his ability at the Eagles, given what he has shown in two seasons with the Cats, is reason for great excitement.
And given the limited hand that West Coast recruiters took into the draft, they could be well satisfied with the outcome.
Jamieson is a 200cm ruck/forward who is nimble for his size and will add even greater depth to an impressive list of developing big men that includes Oscar Allen, Jarrod Brander, Harry Edwards and Bailey Williams.
Johnson is a smart, medium-sized defender and the Eagles moved strategically to push up the order from pick 69 to 58 after a deal with Essendon to ensure they snared their man.
Johnson and Jamieson were teammates in the WA under 18s team, but have grown up as neighbours in the northern suburbs, playing their junior football at Whitford and North Beach respectively.
The Eagles used just two picks in the national draft and added another two players this morning, with Treacy and O’Neill joining the fold through the rookie draft.
Treacy is originally from Broome and is a young man with an impressive skill set.
The WAFL Eagles team saw first-hand some of his tricks when he kicked a couple of goals against them in a semi-final last season.
O’Neill is a 181cm midfielder with a capacity to win plenty of the football, is clean with his skills and although his season ended prematurely with a knee injury it is not expect to impede his impact.
In addition to those newcomers, the club elevated Francis Watson to the senior list and retained Brendon Ah Chee and Hamish Brayshaw on its rookie list.
All three are popular figures at the club and will continue to work for opportunities.
No club has ever walked away from the draft table disappointed, but the Eagles’ recruiting staff appear to have again hit the bullseye.
