Eagles to list new Waterman
UPDATE: West Coast have committed to nominating Alec Waterman as a father-son selection at November’s national draft, with the paperwork set to be lodged with the AFL in the coming days.
The son of dual premiership player Chris Waterman was told of the decision in a meeting with club staff yesterday.
The nomination is no guarantee he will be wearing an Eagles jumper next season, with other clubs given the right to bid for his services, but it does ensure he will be on an AFL list.
Waterman’s progress has been monitored closely by West Coast.
The 18-year-old said he was overjoyed at the prospect of playing at the elite level next season.
“It’s been one of the main topics within the family the whole year, so it’s a relief just to know that I’ll be somewhere,” he said.
“My whole family has always supported me and they know I did cop it a bit in primary school and junior years about the whole ‘you’re only good because of your dad’ sort of thing.
“They knew exactly what was going on and they just supported me the whole time and said ‘look, just do what you do and that will get you somewhere’.”
The father-son bidding meeting will take place on October 6. Should any rival bids be received for Waterman, West Coast will have to give up their next available draft pick or forfeit their rights to him.
The West Australian understands at least two interstate clubs are considering making a bid for Waterman with a pick in the late second or early third round of the November 27 draft.
While the Eagles haven’t guaranteed they will match a rival bid, it is unlikely they will have to use their first or second pick to get the deal done.
“People have said it would be a bit unfair if you have to leave WA but I don’t mind at all, I’ll just get stuck into it,” Waterman said.
Waterman was the last player picked in the 2012 WA under-16 side, but has improved dramatically after a “kick in the bum” from 16s coach and current Carlton assistant Rob Wiley.
Claremont colts coach Ross McQueen said the rugged inside midfielder would make the most of his opportunity.
“He won’t leave anything to chance, he’ll try everything he possibly can to be the best player he can,” McQueen said.
