Midfield aces fall way of Eagles
West Coast will have their pick of a host of quality midfielders at today's national draft, with key-position players expected to make up at least half of the top 10 selections.
The Eagles will enter the draft at pick No.11 for the second year running when it begins on the Gold Coast at 3.30pm, WA time.
WA is expected to have up to 10 players selected, the State's poorest return in a decade.
The past few days have seen Victorian key forward Patrick McCartin become the favourite to be selected by St Kilda with the coveted No.1 pick, ahead of midfield gun Christian Petracca.
Greater Western Sydney, Gold Coast and Geelong are also expected to go tall with their top-10 picks, while Collingwood are locked into selecting forward Darcy Moore as a father-son pick at No.9.
That is expected to leave the Eagles with a choice between left-footed playmaker Liam Duggan, tall midfielder Jayden Laverde and Queenslander Lachie Weller.
Northern Territory midfielder Nakia Cockatoo is also in the mix, but would be a risk after an injury-interrupted year.
Fremantle will enter the draft at No.13 and are expected to choose between tall defenders Jake Lever and Sam Durdin, depending on earlier selections.
The number of WA players selected today is expected to be the lowest since 2004 when six were picked.
South Fremantle's Jarrod Pickett is tipped to be picked by the Giants at No.4, with fellow Bulldog Jarrod Garlett and Swan Districts midfielder Connor Blakely also likely to be in the mix during the first round.
Perth's Clem Smith and East Perth's Tyler Keitel are expected to be selected, with mature-aged pair Blaine Boekhorst (Swan Districts) and Mitch McGovern (Claremont).
Claremont's Alec Waterman has already joined West Coast as a father-son selection.
WAFL talent academy manager Raff Guadagnino said the State had been prepared for this year's low draft numbers, but he expected those overlooked to be in the mix over the next few seasons.
"I expect between eight to 10," he said. "We've averaged 12 a year for the last three and I would suggest we would see this group of 18-year-olds take a couple of extra years."
