AFL Draft 2024: West Coast commit to matching bids for next generation academy product Malakai Champion

West Coast have committed to drafting next generation academy small forward Malakai Champion this week. The West Australian confirmed that the livewire would be picked up by the Eagles, with the club to match a bid on the livewire if it comes in the national draft on Wednesday or Thursday. Some believe the Subiaco product could draw a big as early as the second round, but if he slips through the national draft the Eagles can take him as a Category-B rookie. The Kalgoorlie product had a strong draft year, kicking three goals against West Coast’s WAFL side in his league debut and finished the year with seven from five senior games. Champion stamped himself as a top draft prospect with three goals for WA against Vic Metro in the under-18 national championships, before excelling in the 20m sprint (2.94 seconds) and agility test (7.84 seconds) at the national draft combine last month. The nephew of former Adelaide and Carlton superstar Eddie Betts has previously trained at the Eagles as part of their academy and was officially nominated in recent weeks ahead of the national draft on Wednesday. West Coast can now match bids on any of their academy products no matter when they come after changes to the rules. It comes after they missed out on Lance Collard last year when he was snapped up by St Kilda with pick No.28, with the Eagles unable to match a bid inside the top 40. Fremantle also missed out on ruckman Mitch Edwards because of the same rule after Geelong snaffled the Peel Thunder big-man up with pick No.32. Western Australia’s talent manager Adam Jones told The West Australian earlier this month that picking Champion was a no-brainer for the Eagles. “He is a really well-rounded small forward in that he’s a very dangerous offensive weapon,” Jones said. “His ability to read a crumb, clean hands and ability to get the ball on his boot quickly is really strong. “And then he’s got that defensive side and ability to chase down, which makes him the complete package. “His first couple of years, he’s going to have to build his endurance to get it to AFL level but if he can, then you’re going to have a super dangerous small forward.” West Coast hold picks 12, 26, 72, 77, 87 and 92 in this year’s draft.