West Coast Eagles

West Coast to look toward Mid-Season Draft in wake of Jai Culley’s ACL injury

The Eagles are now a chance to open the Mid-Season Draft.

Published by
Bryn Wakefield

West Coast will be turning to the Mid-Season Draft on May 31st following a tragic ACL rupture for Jai Culley.

Culley, a 2022 mid-season draftee, went down early against Richmond in Round 8 with scans subsequently revealing an ACL tear on his right knee.

With the 20-year-old midfielder to be moved to the inactive list, senior coach Adam Simpson has revealed the Eagles' plans to restock through the Mid-Season Draft.

"We're meeting on that this week," Simpson told 7NEWS Perth.

"With a spot on the list available, more likely than not, we will look at doing that."

Gippsland Power forward Ryan Maric is one on the radar of West Coast, with the 19-year-old proving to be a dangerous goalkicker in the Coates Talent League this season.

READ MORE: Victorian forward Ryan Maric reportedly on radar of West Coast and Fremantle

BENDIGO, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 16: Ryan Maric of Gippsland Power in action during the round four Coates Talent League Boys match between Bendigo Pioneers and Gippsland Power at Queen Elizabeth Oval on April 16, 2023 in Bendigo, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Claremont key forward Jack Buller is another attractive option for the Eagles, with the 199cm Western Australian averaging 18 disposals and two goals a game at WAFL level.

Currently sitting in 18th, West Coast is likely to have access to Pick 1 of the Mid-Season Draft, the same pick they used to take Culley a season earlier.

Before his season-ending injury, Culley was finding form as a midfielder-forward, and delighted with a four-goal Round 6 showing against Port Adelaide to claim a Rising Star nominee.

Simpson has lamented the poor luck of his first-year player.

"Tragic news really," he said of Culley's ACL rupture.

"Really disappointing for him, and he hasn't even been here 12 months... he'll miss the rest of the year.

West Coast Eagle Jai Culley )Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

"He's pretty resilient, he got here the hard way, and I'm sure he'll get back the hard way as well."

The Eagles have been ravaged by injury this season, with Culley's unavailability complicating their list situation further.

Published by
Bryn Wakefield