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West Coast Selects Willem Duursma With No.1 Pick as Bids and Trades Jolt AFL Draft Opener

The Eagles leverage rare draft capital to accelerate their rebuild.

Overview

  • West Coast chose Gippsland Power standout Willem Duursma at No.1, with Harley Reid presenting the new recruit’s Eagles jumper.
  • The club entered opening night holding picks 1, 2 and 13, with No.2 awarded as compensation for the loss of co-captain Oscar Allen.
  • Early bidding reshaped the board, as Gold Coast matched Zeke Uwland at 2, Carlton matched father–son Harry Dean at 3 and Brisbane matched Daniel Annable at 6.
  • After those matched bids slotted in, West Coast used pick 4 to select multi-sport talent Cooper Duff‑Tytler.
  • Same-day pick swaps were reflected in the order, with Carlton moving No.9 to Essendon and No.11 to North Melbourne, and the Suns and Bulldogs exchanging picks 14 and 15.