Dalziell happy to be back with Eagles
Axed midfielder Bradd Dalziell has rejoined West Coast in a marketing role, saying he holds no grudges despite being cut from the club's playing list after his best season.
The 26-year-old was stunned when he was de-listed by the Eagles after 17 appearances in 2013 in what appeared a breakthrough year as a goal-kicking midfielder.
The on-baller's AFL career ended when rival clubs failed to pick him up in last year's national draft. Despite that, Dalziell said there were no sour grapes.
The East Fremantle player yesterday started his job as a schools and community development officer at West Coast in a sign he is paying more than lip service by thanking the club for his AFL journey.
"It's funny how things work out," Dalziell said.
"Although I've stopped playing football there I've got a role in the marketing side, so I'm really rapt to still be involved with the club that's given me a lot over the last four years.
"Obviously I was disappointed (at being de-listed).
"I still feel now that I've still got plenty to give - one door closes, another opens. You can't keep sour grapes for a while.
"I enjoyed my time at West Coast. Now I feel it's time to move on."
Dalziell confirmed he had not been offered a contract extension at any point during last season.
He has committed to playing for his original WAFL club East Fremantle for the next three years and will bring up his 50-game league milestone in the season opener against premiers West Perth on March 22.
Rival clubs remain wary of how strong East Perth and Peel Thunder will be in 2014 under the AFL-alignment model that links them to West Coast and Fremantle respectively.
Dalziell, who is intimately familiar with battling for a senior berth at West Coast, predicted the model would not create an uneven competition.
He said the temptation for AFL-listed players running out in the WAFL was to stand out individually rather than play as a team.
"I don't think it's going to be a foregone conclusion that it'll be Peel and East Perth one-two," Dalziell said.
"I remember playing a game a few years ago when East Fremantle had between 10 and 15 AFL players against Peel.
"We were beaten by five or six goals and that's when Peel was struggling.
"It's how well they can gel together as a group. Everyone's going to be wanting to play AFL football, so it's whether they want to play for the team or play for themselves individually."
