Ruckman Matt Flynn could be a West Coast Eagle as soon as Friday after officially deciding to move to the wooden spooners as an unrestricted free agent.

Flynn, 26, has played only 33 games in eight years at Greater Western Sydney, including the first nine of this season before falling out of favour following the emergence of Kieran Briggs.

He was impressive in their VFL side, averaging 16 disposals and 22 hit-outs but was unable to break back into the Giants side as they made an incredible run to a preliminary final.

The 202cm, 107kg ruckman heads to the Eagles to add depth to their ruck department in the wake of champion Nic Naitanui’s retirement after an Achilles injury cruelled his 2023 season.

Flynn is set to lead the ruck for the Eagles next season ahead of the improved Bailey Williams, with coach Adam Simpson earlier this year saying his future was as a forward-ruck despite playing all 23 games this season as the main man in the middle.

West Coast needed another big man with only Williams, Callum Jamieson and draftee Harry Barnett in their ruck department after they made nine list changes at the end of a three-win season.

Flynn was in demand with Melbourne in the market for a back-up ruckman with Brodie Grundy set to land at Sydney after just one season at the Demons.

GWS football boss Jason McCartney revealed earlier this week they’d not even put an offer to Flynn.

“We haven’t been in the position to offer Matt a contract, so him and (his manager) Scott Lucas have done the right thing and explored options,” McCartney told Trade Radio on Monday.

“He’s looking for that opportunity to play more regular football. He did it earlier in the year with us but obviously, Kieran Briggs really stood up and shone through in the second half of the year.

“It’s fair to say he’s probably weighing up options now between West Coast and Melbourne of what it looks like, but I don’t think he’s come to a final decision on what that looks like yet.

“Those clubs will hear more soon as we will.”

It starts what could be a big off-season for the Eagles, who are set to land small forward Tyler Brockman from Hawthorn after he requested a trade to the Eagles.

Brisbane midfielder Deven Robertson is also weighing up his future, with a reported three-year deal on the table from West Coast for the Lion who just days ago played in the grand final loss to Collingwood.

The 22-year-old has a two-year contract offered from Brisbane but could be squeezed out given the incredible midfield depth at the club.