Image Credit: Mark Brake/AFL Photos

POSITION: Tall Forward

SNAPSHOT: "An explosive tall athlete who impacts both aerially and at ground level, Regan is the ideal forward link-up player."

One of the many exciting Next Generation Academy (NGA) products out of Western Australia this year is Ethan Regan, tied to the West Coast Eagles' pathway program. At 191cm, he offers dynamism in spades with explosive athletic traits and the versatility to play a range of roles. He burst onto the scene this season after an injury interrupted bottom-age campaign, producing exciting moments for East Perth and WA's Under 19 side as a high half-forward. With some eye-catching traits and plenty more to develop, Regan is a long-term prospect with considerable upside.

STRENGTHS:

+ Athleticism
+ Overhead marking
+ Clean hands
+ Impact-per-possession
+ Upside

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Consistency
- Production

Regan fits the mould of an impact player, one who can wreak havoc in a purple patch but also have his quiet periods. He catches the eye with glimpses of his athleticism and raw potential, mostly through his aerial feats when he can explode with a big leap and pluck contested marks with ease.

His aerial ability and clean hands make for key traits in his role. Regan has been most often utilised as a high half-forward who works hard up the ground and links back inside 50 with his penetrating kicking skills. He also hit the scoreboard himself with a goal in every other Colts game, offering scoring avenues with great diversity.

With the ability to stand out and make things happen with ball in hand, Regan is a high impact per possession prospect. He would be even more damaging with greater consistency, converting his highlight reel into a full tape. Having averaged 12.3 disposals and 4.4 marks this season, with several games under 10 touches, building his production level will compound his impact and help hurt the opposition more often.

Despite the peaks and troughs, Regan's upside is obvious and he certainly catches the eye when in full flight. Able to play up on a wing and even in midfield, he has great potential which can be tapped into and if given a chance in an elite environment, may prove a big improver over time.

DRAFT PROJECTION: Late/Rookie

SUMMARY:

With ties to West Coast as an NGA talent, Regan could be placed onto the Eagles' Category B rookie list if no bids come within the National Draft. Should that be the case, he could repay the West Australian side in a massive way as essentially a free hit. His high ceiling and athletic profile will likely have intrigued other club recruiters though, and the back-end of the draft is incredibly even, so a bid may come into play.