Rookies complete 2014 squad
The West Coast Eagles today rounded out their 2014 squad with three selections in the AFL Rookie Draft
In addition, the club confirmed its commitment to Murray Newman, by selecting him with the final pick.
Maginness, a nephew of dual Hawthorn premiership player Scott Maginness, is a hard running midfielder while Powell, originally from Broome, is a developing key position player, who further shores up the club’s big man stocks.
Newman, who was dropped off the senior list with the promise of being rookie listed, has continued to train with the club and is currently in Broome with his teammates on a pre-season training camp.
The rookie draft completed a trade and draft strategy in which the club has also added pacy utility player Elliot Yeo, experienced Hawthorn star Xavier Ellis, WA under-18s captain and Larke medallist Dom Sheed, South Australian small forward/midfielder Malcolm Karpany, Claremont key defender Tom Barrass and South Fremantle utility player Dylan Main.
General Manager Football Operations Craig Vozzo said he was delighted with the quality of the players who had been recruited and excited at the broad skills set and coverage those players bring to the squad.
“We are delighted with the players we have been able to add to our list through the trade, free agency and drafts,” Vozzo said today.
“We believe we recruited strongly and expect the players we have added will have the character and work ethic required to give themselves every chance of having successful AFL careers with our club.
“Today, in the rookie draft, we recruited Will Maginness with our first selection. We rated Will highly throughout the year and were thrilled to be able to add him to our squad today.
“We will be patient with Rowen who is a developing tall player and a young man in whom we see great upside. Of course we know Murray very well and have been pleased with his progress in recent months.”
With the rookie draft completed, the 2014 squad is now finalised and will come together for the first time late this week as the coaches and players knuckle down and ramp up preparations for the 2014 campaign.