breakingWest Coast Eagles draft assistance: AFL confirms package that includes end-of-first-round draft selectionGlen QuartermainThe West AustralianTue, 30 September 2025 1:17PMCommentsCommentsEmail Glen Quartermain
West Coast have been handed an AFL assistance package that it hopes will lift it from the bottom of the AFL ladder which includes an extra end-of-first-round selection in this year’s national draft.
The AFL confirmed the package on Tuesday, with the Eagles to receive the first-round pick – currently pick 19 – as well getting four additional rookie list spots per year over the next three seasons.
The league can review or alter the support in 2027 or 28 if the Eagles climb rapidly up the table.
AFL executive general manager football performance Greg Swann said the special assistance package was aimed at supporting the West Coast Eagles return to being competitive.
“It is important that we have a competitively balanced competition and that fans can feel that on any day, in any game, their team can win,” Swann said.
“The Eagles have won only nine games in the past three seasons and finished in the bottom three of the ladder in the past four seasons. “We have been working with the club on how assistance can improve their on-field performance to return to being competitive. “This package is structured to assist the club in the development of their younger playing group by adding the four additional Rookie list spots it allows them to invest in additional talent.”
The additional rookie spots will be funded by the club.
The Eagles now have picks one, and are likely to get two for departing captain Oscar Allen, as well as 15 (tied to Hawthorn), 19, 20, 33 and 51 (both also tied to the Hawks). Selections 15 onwards are expected to slide back after other clubs’ academy and father-son selections.
West Coast has four players in the mix through its own academy, Wes Walley, Koby Evans, father-son prospect Charlie Banfield and Tylah Williams.
A league release said the AFL could review the assistance “should there be a material change to the circumstances under which they were provided”.
The extra end-of-first-round selection might be the key to secure Brisbane defender Brandon Starcevich.
West Coast is also expected to land compensation picks further down the chain for Campbell Chesser and Liam Ryan who have indicated they want to join Carlton and St Kilda.
The Eagles have reportedly offered Starcevich a six-year deal worth $900,000 a season. The AFL requires clubs to seek approval from their club president and chief executive for player contracts lasting six years or longer.
The Eagles have finished in the bottom three in each of the past four seasons, including two wooden spoons, in 2023 and this year.
North Melbourne was handed similar assistance at the end of 2023 when the Roos were given an extra end-of-first round pick that year and two end-of-first round picks for the following season as well as extra rookie list positions.
The picks for the next year came with the condition the AFL could review them in 12 months, meaning the Roos traded them that year as future picks.
North Melbourne had won 12 of its previous 84 games when it received its concession package, with West Coast’s record worse, winning only 11 games in the past four seasons.
More to come
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