All the hype around the club’s opening game of the season was centred on the imminent debut of young ruckman Bailey Williams.

The athletic 200cm product from Dandenong had impressed in the pre-season match simulation and opening Marsh Community Series clash with Essendon, and seemed to have nudged ahead of experienced rivals Tom Hickey and Nathan Vardy to partner Nic Naitanui.

But just ahead of the last pre-season match against Fremantle, Williams suffered a minor hamstring strain so he could not play in the final hit-out to press for selection.

He then was not chosen to play against the Dees, the match committee still concerned about his hammy and opted for the Naitanui-Hickey pairing.

Having narrowly missed the opportunity in round one. Williams has had wait six months and 13 games for his next look at senior footy and will now make his long-awaited debut against Richmond at Metricon Stadium tomorrow night.

Selection 35 in the 2018 draft – seven places lower than midfielder Xavier O’Neill who made his first senior appearance last week – Williams was something of a surprise to still be on the table when the Eagles had their third selection.

Between those picks, the club landed utility player Luke Foley, who is also pressing for an opportunity.

The 2018 draft is looking to be a fertile ballot, with Jarrod Cameron, a selection from the Next Generation Academy, having already played 12 games.

Williams, 20, is strong overhead and has the capacity to impact the scoreboard when playing forward. On draft night AFL development expert Mick Ablett summed up the Williams thus: “They have absolutely got a bargain the West Coast Eagles.”

He considered Williams to be the best big man in the draft pool.

While the club has not had the opportunity to play competitive matches at the second tier level because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Williams has excelled in scrimmages against opposition clubs.

The scrimmages are reduced numbers – flexible depending on the availability of each club – and he kicked six goals against Hawthorn a couple of weeks ago in that modified match simulation.

He will become the sixth player to debut for the club this season, following on from Tim Kelly, Jamaine Jones, Harry Edwards, Nic Reid and O’Neill. Reid, O’Neill and Williams will have debuted in consecutive weeks.