AN ACTIVE trade period saw West Coast gain and lose senior players, while conceding ground in the draft order to end up with pick 12. The Eagles are also well stocked with future selections and have club-tied talent to consider next year, along with one talented Next Generation Academy member in 2024. We preview the intake new coach Andrew McQualter will carry into his first season at the helm.

>> FREE: View the 2024 AFL Draft Guide

2024 RECORD: 16th | 5-18 | 68.1%
2024 PICKS: 12, 26, 72, 77, 87, 92
FUTURE PICKS: WCE R1, HAW R1, WCE R2, HAW R2, WCE R3, HAW R3
ACADEMY/FATHER-SON NOMINEES: Malakai Champion (NGA)

FIRST PICK:
Pick 12

Having originally held pick three, West Coast is now poised just outside the top 10 and can extract relatively similar value in such a deeply talented draft. Top West Australian talent Bo Allan – a Fremantle supporter – is likely to pop up in that range, though the Eagles may not necessarily have him in mind.

It seems Joe Berry is coming under increased consideration, with his zip and class in the front half proving particularly desirable. His Vic Country teammates, Tobie Travaglia and Xavier Lindsay are also in the Eagles’ sights, likely for their outside run with scope to move into midfield.

A player to watch in a similar mould to Berry is Taj Hotton. The athletic midfielder-forward has plenty of x-factor and was dominating at all levels before his year was ended by an ACL tear. Key forward Jobe Shanahan may also be on the radar for his aerial nous and ability to play at either end.

REMAINING CROP:
Picks 26, 72, 77, 87, 92

West Coast has more than enough stock to approach the live trading table with a haul of six future picks attached to both them and Hawthorn – including two first rounders. It means pick 26 could be packaged to move up the order, or to split and extract value out of the second round.

If pick 26 remains intact, the Eagles could target local talent like key forward/ruck Kayle Gerreyn or utility forward Hamish Davis. Perhaps some tall defensive support is in store with Noah Mraz available, while fellow Dandenong Stingrays star Cooper Hynes looms as a ‘best available’ type of selection.

The Eagles are expected to take three or four picks at the National Draft, with one in each of the first two rounds, and perhaps Next Generation Academy (NGA) prospect Malakai Champion to come in later on. The lively small forward could attract a late bid, but may also be available to rookie list.

West Coast will likely have more club-tied conundrums next year with two NGA members named in the AFL Academy – Wesley Walley and Koby Evans. There’s also father-son gun Charlie Banfield (son of Drew) to consider, so maybe those future selections will be handled with greater care.

KEY QUESTIONS:

– Can West Coast target some speed and class with pick 12?
– Are any local talents on the horizon for West Coast?
– Will West Coast dip into its stock of future picks?