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AFL draft 2023: West Coast Eagles snare SA goalsneak Loch Rawlinson with top rookie draft pick

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Mitchell WoodcockThe West Australian
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VideoSee the moment Lawson Humphries learnt he'd been drafted by Geelong.

West Coast continue to cast an eye to the future in replenishing their forward stocks, recruiting Sturt small forward Loch Rawlinson and Perth tall Coen Livingstone through rookie and category B selections..

Rawlinson was taken with pick No.1 in the rookie draft as the Eagles continued their trend of taking the first player on each of the three days of this year’s draft action.

The teenager is a 177cm forward who kicked 17 goals and averaged 19 disposals in the SANFL under-18s and will head to the Eagles.

As expected, the Eagles swooped in to grab Perth forward-ruck Livingstone as a category B Rookie, joining Tyrell Dewar and Jordyn Baker who were listed the same way last year.

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Perth ruck-forward Coen Livingstone is now an Eagle.
Camera IconPerth ruck-forward Coen Livingstone is now an Eagle. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Livingstone was the joint winner of the Jack Clarke Medal alongside Subiaco midfielder Riley Wills, kicking 20 goals and averaging 16 touches and 22 hit-outs.

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Fremantle similarly targeted forward-line tall timber at the rookie draft, grabbing West Perth tall Odin Jones with pick No.5.

West Perth’s Odin Jones.
Camera IconWest Perth’s Odin Jones. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Jones attracted late draft interest as a forward-ruck after a strong campaign for the Falcons, averaging 16 disposals and kicking seven goals in nine games.

East Perth’s Xavier Walsh has been picked up by Port Adelaide following an impressive season for the Royals colts side, which included 13 goals in eight games.

Walsh only played one game for WA because of injury, but the 195cm key forward showed plenty late in the season as a key forward, including three goals from 15 touches against West Perth in round 20.

The additions meant a total of 14 WA products were drafted across the course of the week.

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