Duggan in mix for a berth at West Coast

First-round draft pick Liam Duggan has put his hand up for round-one selection after catching the eye for East Perth on Saturday.

Duggan was best on ground in the opening half of the Royals’ 13-point win over Swan Districts at Medibank Stadium and helped last year’s runners-up establish a 46-point lead at three-quarter time.

The 18-year-old midfielder showed poise beyond his years, setting up numerous attacking raids through the midfield and kicking goals when resting forward.

He faded late but finished with 22 disposals, two goals and a number of goal assists in a performance which suggests he may not be playing at WAFL level for long.

Fellow 2014 draftee Alec Waterman, son of dual Eagles premiership player Chris Waterman, was also influential in his second game of senior football, with 26 touches and two goals.

Tall midfielder Brant Colledge was another to throw his name in the selection mix with 30 disposals and seven inside 50s.

The 20-year-old took time to work into the game, but finished as one of the Royals’ best.

The form of the club’s young talent is a welcome headache for Eagles coach Adam Simpson ahead of Saturday night’s season-opening game against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.

Simpson told the AFL’s website that Duggan, Tom Lamb and Jackson Nelson were in line for early selection.

He said their young teammates would also be in the mix if they were able to perform consistently.

“We haven’t made a decision (about round one), but they'll play senior football at some stage,” Simpson said.

“Whether it’s round one, that’s not the be-all and end-all. But the fact is that (Lamb and Nelson) have played every game of the pre-season.

“Liam Duggan performed well at East Perth on the weekend.

“So we can see at least three potential first-gamers in the next month or so, safe to say.”

Colledge said he hoped to have an opportunity to add to his two appearances for the Eagles last season. “Obviously (round-one selection) is the goal, but we’ve got some blokes playing some pretty good footy there at the moment,” he said.

“I’m just trying to play good footy down here.”