The West Coast Eagles are heading into what many consider the most important draft in the club's history, following a disastrous 2025 season where they lost 22 games. The departure of Campbell Chesser to Carlton has highlighted a significant gap in the club's list, with only one player selected with or traded for a first-round draft pick between 2015 and 2021 remaining on the roster. In total, just eight players recruited during that period are still at the club.
The Tim Kelly trade, which cost first-round picks in 2019 and 2020, has been a major factor in the Eagles' current predicament. While Kelly was a standout performer early on, winning the 2023 John Worsfold Medal, the trade has not translated into sustained success. This has exposed a list management strategy that has failed to secure long-term talent, leaving the club with a young and inexperienced squad.
In the 2018 premiership year, West Coast fielded eight first-round picks in their match-day squad, with an average age of 26 and 2,657 games of experience. By contrast, the round 24 team in 2025 had just seven first-rounders, an average age of 23, and 1,000 fewer games of experience. This stark contrast underscores that the Eagles are still in the early stages of their rebuild.
The upcoming draft is critical for the club's future, with picks 1, 2, 13, 34, and 41 in hand. Willem Duursma is widely tipped to be the first pick, while ruckman/forward Cooper Duff-Tytler is predicted at pick 2. The ruck position has been a weakness since Nic Naitanui's retirement, and the midfield also needs bolstering. Next Generation Academy prospects Tylah Williams and Koby Evans, as well as potential father-son recruit Charlie Banfield, could also be targeted.
The Eagles' best draft on record by games played was in 2005, which yielded Matt Priddis and Shannon Hurn, averaging 136 games per player. Whether this year's picks can have a similar impact remains to be seen, but the answers will not be known for years.
