EXCITING West Coast recruit Gerrick Weedon has always idolised David Wirrpanda and now he will start his AFL career in the retired Eagle's No.44 jumper.

Weedon, who was born and raised in Broome, arrived in Perth yesterday after being drafted by West Coast with pick No.22 in last Thursday's NAB AFL Draft.

Already thrilled to be drafted by his favourite AFL club, the small forward said he was proud to wear the number his idol played 227 games in over 14 years.

"I've always looked up to 'Wirra' - he was my idol - so I'm pretty proud to wear his number," Weedon said from Subiaco Oval on Wednesday.

"I've always wanted to play AFL footy, that was my dream and this is what I've got. So I'm pretty happy."

Weedon, 18, said he was looking forward to being officially presented with his jumper, but he didn't think there would be any added pressure on him wearing the famous number. 

New recruits Brad Sheppard (No.12) and Koby Stevens (No.14) have also been allocated jumper numbers for 2010, while Bradd Dalziell, who arrived during trade week, will wear No.22.

Three of West Coast's highly-rated young midfielders have been given new jumper numbers, with Brad Ebert inheriting Tyson Stenglein's No.5, Chris Masten taking Chad Fletcher's No.7 and Luke Shuey moving to Masten's No.13.

Weedon met his new teammates and coach John Worsfold yesterday, but he faces a possible stint on the sidelines for a hip problem that he will seek specialist treatment on next week.
 
While fellow draftees Sheppard and Stevens have voiced their intentions to play senior football as early as possible next season, Weedon said he would aim to get his hip right, develop and "do all the right things" before looking to debut.

While hailing from Broome, Weedon has spent the last two years in Perth playing football with the Claremont colts side and boarding at Perth's Contarf Academy, where former Fremantle player Dale Kickett was a mentor. 

"At first it was pretty hard, going away from family and not seeing them, but after a while you get used to it," he said. 

"All my family in Broome are Eagles supporters and I've barracked for the Eagles since I was a young boy.

"I wasn't expecting to get drafted by the Eagles. I didn't know which club [would draft me], so I was pretty happy when I got drafted by the Eagles."
 
Weedon, who represented WA at the 2009 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, arrives at West Coast at a time when the club is looking for a small crumbing forward.

He kicked two bags of five goals for Claremont in 2009, but can also play as a rebounding defender.

He described himself as a competitive, tough player who enjoys the physical side of things.