West Coast are set to continue to prioritise the AFL draft despite their list being stocked with young talent after years of strong recruiting.

The Eagles are coming off one of the strongest draft hauls in club history, landing three first-round picks last year, which they used on Willem Duursma (No.1), Cooper Duff-Tytler (No.4), and Josh Lindsay (No.19).

They joined a handy group of early picks in Reuben Ginbey, Elijah Hewett, Harley Reid, and Bo Allan, who have all been taken in the first round in the past four drafts.

And while the Eagles have improved in 2026, they are set to once again have a pick at the pointy end of this year’s draft with the team currently holding selection No.3.

This could be pushed out with academy and father-son bids as clubs look to load up on young talent before the introduction of Tasmania ahead of the 2028 season, which are set to severely compromise the next few years of drafts.

Eagles coach Andrew McQualter said the Eagles would double down on their strategy and retain the first pick in this year’s draft despite still needing experience on their list.

“We’re really clear on our strategy internally, we’re going to go to the draft with that first pick, no doubt,” McQualter told ABC Radio.

“We think we’re building a list profile that can win for a long time, but we’ve still going to tip into that top end a little bit more.

“We’ve done well, the recruiters have done well, it seems in the last few years in that space, but we’ll certainly be headed into the draft with our first pick.”

This could put the Eagles out of contention to secure Gold Coast forward Jed Walter, who remains unsigned beyond this year and has interest from multiple clubs.

As revealed by The West Australian earlier this year, Walter has been of interest for West Coast, with the young spearhead having strong links to Perth.

The Eagles have been linked to several experienced players this year, including dual Brownlow medallists Patrick Cripps and Lachie Neale.

Cripps has denied any chance of him leaving the Blues before his current deal expires, with the skipper contracted until the end of next year.

Neale is a free agent and would cost West Coast nothing, but he has now been heavily linked to Collingwood, who reportedly have a strong offer on the table for the former Lions skipper.

Western Bulldogs forward Arty Jones has also been reportedly on the Eagles’ radar, with the Claremont product out of contract at the end of this season.

West Coast have not been afraid to bring in experienced players to help their young group with Liam Baker, Jack Graham, Tylar Young (all Richmond), Brandon Starcevich, Deven Robertson (both Brisbane), Harry Schoenberg (Adelaide), Finlay Macrae (Collingwood), and Matt Owies (Carlton) all coming from other clubs.

While the Eagles have been able to land several top-end talented players, they’ve also found some gems later in the draft.

The best of the crop is touted to be young forward Jobe Shanahan, who was snapped up by the Eagles with pick No.30 in 2024 and is now considered a steal.

“Our young key forwards, it’s quite extraordinary what they’re doing. Jobe is 19 years old, Cooper is 18, Archer (Reid) is only 20 – there’s not many key forwards in the competition playing AFL football at that age, let alone playing well and performing,” McQualter said.

“We’re asking a lot of our guys. Reuben is 21, too, he’s still young. These guys are holding down massive positions in AFL footy, and we believe that will hold them in good stead for the future.”

While McQualter said they would take the first pick in this year’s draft, it doesn’t mean they won’t be active in the trade space over the next few years.

Sydney superstar Chad Warner is once again out of contract at the end of next season, and unless he inks a new deal at the Swans, the East Fremantle product is going to be linked to a move back West with the Eagles at the front of the queue.

Melbourne premiership defender Trent Rivers and Port Adelaide forward Mitch Georgiades are also unsigned beyond next year and would be key targets of the Eagles.

West Coast also have to prioritise locking away the top-end talent already on their list.

Reid signed a short two-year contract extension last year, meaning he will be uncontracted at the end of 2028 and will undoubtedly demand rival interest once again.

Fellow No.1 draftee Duursma’s initial three-year contract also ends in 2028, with Duff-Tytler and Lindsay also unsigned beyond that season.

Hewett is uncontracted at the end of this year and is yet to put pen to paper on a long-term deal that is reportedly on the table, while Shanahan’s deal also expires at the end of 2028.