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West Coast will be given a suite of extra draft help this year for their extended period of dreadful performance.
The Eagles will get an end-of-first-round draft pick this year, which is currently pick 19, and four additional rookie spots for the next three seasons.
Andrew McQualter endured a tough maiden season as Eagles coach, registering just one win from 23 games.Credit: AFL Photos
Clubs were informed of the concessions Tuesday afternoon.
The Eagles will also receive a compensation pick for losing captain Oscar Allen as a free agent. That pick is expected to be considered a band one compensation pick ad mean the Eagles get an extra pick after their first pick.
The Eagles currently have picks 1, 15, 19 and 20 after Tuesday’s announcement. Allen compensation pick could mean they have pick 2 as well.
It comes after a horror season – their first under coach Andrew McQualter – in which West Coast won just one of their 23 games.
Even though the end-of-first-round selection will get pushed back significantly in this year’s draft because of clubs bidding on academy and father-son picks, the concession is still likely to be met with hostility from other clubs.
The Eagles, who won the flag in 2018, are considered the architects of their own demise for mishandling their list decisions after winning that premiership.
AFL executive general manager of football performance Greg Swann said the AFL wanted West Coast to be competitive, and that’s why the assistance package had been offered.
“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.
“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 addition of an extra draft pick at the end of the first round in a weak draft pool will further dilute the talent freely available to all other clubs.
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The Eagles argued that after winning 11 games in four years, just one of them this season, the precepts of equalisation demanded they be given help.
“We understand the view [about the Eagles winning the premiership in 2018], but the metrics are the metrics,” Eagles CEO Don Pyke told this masthead in July.
“If there is no wish to provide assistance, I think in the future we are removing this as a mechanism for teams in this situation and a departure from equalisation.”
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