West Coast Bet Big on 2007 Draft

The West Coast Eagles have emerged as the biggest player in next month’s National Draft.

With the departure of Chris Judd and Mitch Morton and an unusual draft selection trade with the Western Bulldogs, the Eagles have emerged with four selections in the top 22. The Eagles will be hoping that the talent pool in the 2007 draft is as high as in recent years.

The Eagles struck an unusual deal with the Bulldogs by trading their selections 30, 35 and 62 for the Bulldogs’ number 22 and 54. The exact purpose of the trade is unclear but no doubt the Eagles have a player in mind with their shuffle up the order as do the Bulldogs with their realignment.

The Tigers traded out of a position of strength giving up selections number 19 and 35 but gaining experienced duo Jordan McMahon and Mitchell Morton from the Western Bulldogs and the West Coast Eagles respectively.

The Western Bulldogs had yet another busy trade week and have ended up with selections 5, 19, 30, 35, 43, 48 and 66. Ben Hudson and Tim Callan have made their way to Whitten Oval while McMahon and Sam Power have headed out.

The Blues will have a long wait after they take Matthew Kreuzer with selection number 1 recruiting manager, Wayne Hughes will sit on his microphone for the next 34 selections having given up picks 3, 20 and 66, the first two for West Coast’s Chris Judd and the latter for promising young midfielder Richard Hadley from Brisbane.

Collingwood, having been active in the ‘06 draft, have opted out of the ‘07 draft by bringing in highly rated Lions ruckman Cameron Wood for their first round selection 14. The Pies, who were desperate for a big man, will now have to wait until selection 31 before reading out their first selection.