Tim Watson says the AFL would be ‘obliged’ to give West Coast Eagles draft help if they fail again in 2024

Essendon great Tim Watson has suggested the AFL will be obliged to give West Coast draft concessions if they claim a second consecutive wooden spoon in 2024. The Eagles’ 50-point loss to Port Adelaide in their season has them already on the bottom of the ladder, but salt was added to the wound when co-captain Oscar Allen was ruled out with a knee injury. The West Australian revealed on Tuesday night Allen could miss up to 10 weeks. It leaves the Eagles without their best forward, who booted 53 goals last season despite his team claiming only three wins. West Coast are already without premiership star Dom Sheed (ankle), second-year midfielder Elijah Hewett (feet), forward Liam Ryan (hamstring) and No.1 ruckman Matt Flynn ahead of a tough match-up against premiership favourites Greater Western Sydney. The recruitment of No.1 draftee Harley Reid has been the shining light out of the Eagles’ darkest season on record, which saw them belted by 100 points or more on five occasions. It has forced the Eagles into an extensive rebuild, one Watson said the AFL were “almost duty bound” to help with if they finished on the bottom of the ladder again. “I am saying to you, they’ll put their hand out if they have another poor year and they’re like three or four wins for the year, then they’ll put their hand out and they’ll say ‘come on AFL, give us some assistance would you please’,” Watson told SEN. “The AFL has this steadfast idea and that is that they will try and even up the competition if it looks too imbalanced … they won’t want the West Coast Eagles down on the bottom of the ladder for too long. “If you’re the West Coast Eagles – like other clubs – you’ll be scrambling over the next couple of years to get as many early draft picks as you possibly can because the Tasmanian team is going to hoover everything up. You’re not going to have access to the best, young available talent in the country.” The AFL last year handed North Melbourne several concessions including three first round picks – one for last year and two for this year – as well as two more rookie spots to help them climb the ladder. Add in the compensation they got for losing Ben McKay to Essendon as a free agent an the Kangaroos were able to land five players inside the first round last year to help their rebuild. That included Colby McKerchar (No.2), Zane Duursma (No.4), Taylor Goad (No.20), Wil Dawson (No.22) and Riley Hardeman (No.23). The loss of Allen will force the Eagles to again reshuffle their line-up for the game against the Giants. It will almost certainly give veteran Jack Darling a reprieve after he had a four-disposal, one-goal performance against the Power but will be needed to be the main man alongside Jake Waterman. Forward Jack Williams will come into consideration after he kicked three goals in the WAFL pre-season win over Perth. Williams can back up Bailey Williams in the ruck, while last year’s mid-season draftee Ryan Maric is also a chance after being named as an emergency for last weekend’s loss to the Power and kicking two goals against the Demons.