West Coast chief govt Don Pyke has confirmed the struggling membership will make a proper request for AFL draft help after 4 years within the doldrums.
The Eagles are going through the prospect of a one-win season, which might be the worst lead to membership historical past, as they head in direction of a second wood spoon in three years.
A powerhouse off the sphere, West Coast have gained simply 11 of their previous 91 video games in a barren run that has included a raft of accidents to key gamers.
Pyke on Wednesday stated the Eagles had already had “preliminary discussions” with the AFL about what an help package deal may seem like.
He stated the Eagles would weigh up a number of choices, moderately than merely requesting an additional high-end nationwide draft choice.
“We discover ourselves proper within the place the place should you apply it throughout golf equipment who’ve just lately obtained help … we’re properly and actually within the window for that,” Pyke stated on SEN.
“We’ll have these discussions and we’ll proceed with some form of request.
“We really feel like, as disappointing as it’s, we’re the place we’re.
“And with the draft as compromised as it has been, we really feel like we are able to profit from some help to get ourselves out of the place we have been.”
Pyke likened West Coast’s place to that of North Melbourne, the latest membership to obtain draft help from the AFL in 2023.
The Kangaroos obtained three end-of-first-round alternatives for the drafts in 2023 and 2024, in addition to additional rookie-list spots.
North had completed every of the earlier 4 seasons within the backside two on the ladder, profitable simply 12 of 84 video games.
West Coast will have already got the primary draft decide in the event that they end final this 12 months and can obtain one other high-end choice as compensation if, as anticipated, sought-after captain Oscar Allen strikes to a rival membership by means of free company.
Captain Oscar Allen will likely be a free agent on the finish of this season. (AAP: Richard Wainwright)
Pyke’s feedback got here the week after key AFL officers hosed down hypothesis concerning the Eagles receiving a precedence decide.
AFL chief govt Andrew Dillon and new league soccer efficiency boss Greg Swann each urged West Coast to observe the instance set by golf equipment comparable to Brisbane and Adelaide in plotting a path out of the doldrums.
However Pyke stated a draft compromised by academy and father-son alternatives, in addition to compensation picks, made it tough for golf equipment to rebuild.
“Sadly, within the final two years, after we’ve completed within the backside three, our first decide within the second spherical has slid out to the 30s,” he stated.
“This draft could be very a lot the identical state of affairs.
“There’s going to be six to eight, if not 9, of these sorts of gamers that can affect on the choice order, which simply means entry to expertise for groups like ourselves who’re attempting to construct simply will get tougher.”
AAP
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