The struggling West Coast Eagles have been handed a golden opportunity to fast-track their team rebuild, securing the prized first two live selections in the upcoming AFL draft.
Eagles Set for Draft Domination
After a season with just one victory and only 11 wins across the past four years, the Eagles are poised to inject elite young talent into their squad. They are widely tipped to select versatile tall midfielder Willem Duursma with the coveted number one pick. Duursma comes from a famous football family, with siblings Xavier (Essendon), Yasmin (Carlton), and Zane (North Melbourne) already in the league.
Thanks to a compensation pick for departed co-captain Oscar Allen, West Coast then holds the following selection. While they are expected to place bids on Gold Coast academy prospect Zeke Uwland and Carlton father-son option Harry Dean, the Eagles are anticipated to ultimately snare ruck-forward Cooper Duff-Tytler with their second pick.
Top Talent and Strategic Bidding Wars
AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan has forecast an aggressive bidding process as clubs jostle for position. "There’ll be no love lost as we get through the next few days with clubs, as they try and position their own club to have a great list into the future," Sheehan stated.
He also highlighted South Australian Dyson Sharp as a player who should still be considered among the draft's absolute best, alongside Duursma and Duff-Tytler. "I’ve said consistently that I think there’s three genuine number ones and Dyson Sharp’s in that group," Sheehan said, pointing to Sharp's dominant performance in the national championships.
Other names set to attract early bids include Gold Coast's Dylan Patterson and Brisbane academy product Dan Annable.
How the Draft Will Unfold
The first round of the AFL draft is scheduled for Wednesday night, with the remainder to be completed on Thursday night. Essendon, holding picks five and six, could be a potential landing spot for Sharp if he slips down the order. The Bombers are also expected to orchestrate a pick swap with Carlton to facilitate the Blues' bid matching for Harry Dean.
This draft represents a pivotal moment for the West Coast Eagles, offering a chance to add Duursma and another top-tier prospect to a promising young core that already includes Harley Reid, Reuben Ginbey, and Elijah Hewett.
