The powerful link between the West Coast Eagles and one of its greatest ever players was rekindled today with the club’s final pick in the AFL rookie draft.
The club secured Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls, a nephew of dual premiership hero Chris Lewis with selection 53. The 21-year-old is finally at the club he supported so fervently as a kid, adorning his bedroom walls with posters of his uncle and football hero who played 215 games after joining the club’s inaugural list in 1987.
Oakley-Nicholls could not have been happier with his second chance after being delisted by Richmond at the end of this season.
Originally from East Perth, he was snared by the Tigers at selection eight in the national ballot of 2005, but the fast-paced midfielder managed just 13 games after his 2006 debut, ravaged by injuries over the ensuing four years.
The new Eagle is thrilled to be back in WA and believes his best footy is ahead of him.
“It’s good to get another opportunity. I was disappointed with my run at Richmond and I was hoping that someone would give me another crack and thankfully West Coast has given me another opportunity, so it’s good,” Oakley-Nicholls said.
“A few injuries troubled me and I just found that I didn’t get as much opportunity as I would hope for. You can make up excuses, but I wasn’t playing the footy I knew I could play over there.
“It’s good to be back, I’ve been over there (Melbourne) for four years now, so I’m back home and around family and friends and I reckon I’ll play my best footy now. Just being around family and I’ve played all my junior footy over here so I know the grounds. They’re nice big open grounds that suit my strengths so it’s good.
“I’m probably more happy and excited now than I was when I first got drafted because I thought I was gone, but now I know that I’m right and I’ve just got to knuckle down and play some good footy, put my hand up I suppose, and just show other people what I can do.”
Oakley-Nicholls has been talking regularly to his childhood hero and sees Lewis as an important football role model as he reignites his career.
“I’ve been back home for three months now so I’ve been over to see Chris and chatted to him. I look up to him, I’ve always looked up to him as a footy player.
“The club has always been in my heart, even when I got drafted by Richmond I always watched out for the Eagles because my whole family goes for them and they’re always in your ear about them. Now I’ve finally got the chance to pull on an Eagles jumper and I’m just going to put my head down and work hard.”
