Brady Hough has capped a remarkable rise from country footballer to second-round draftee in little more than a year after being snared by West Coast.
It came as the Eagles stayed close to home with their selections on the second day of the draft, claiming Swan Districts key defender Rhett Bazzo with Pick 37 before turning to versatile East Fremantle prospect Jack Williams at Pick 57 and mature-age Subiaco ball-winner Greg Clark at 62.
One of the draft’s true bolters, Hough climbed to Pick 31 as the Eagles struck to secure the 189cm midfielder/forward.
Hough, a Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault product, had received interest from West Coast after recruiters visited his family home in Harvey earlier this year.
“I’ve come up from country football and now I’m on the Eagles’ list. It’s just crazy,” Hough said.
“I only came up to try to take my football to the next level. I always believed in myself but you don’t think about this.”
Bazzo, a 195cm defender who can also swing forward, is the son of the late Steve Bazzo, a fine WAFL player at Swans in his own right.
Originally from South Mandurah JFC, Bazzo caught the eyes of recruiters with his strong intercept marking and shut-down roles down back.
Bazzo said he was elated at the prospect of learning off intercept marking duo Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass at the Eagles.
“I’m over the moon I get to stay here with family and friends who helped me reach this point. I’m really excited,” he said.
“It’s pretty wicked having two handy key backs there. I’m going to be like a sponge and learn as much as I can from them early on. There’s no better people to learn off.
“I was pretty nervous there for a bit but I’m really excited to get to West Coast and work from day one.”
The 195cm Williams, who only turned to focus on footy in his teenage years after switching from basketball, has played as a key forward, ruckman and defender.
Clark snared the Simpson Medal as best afield in Subiaco’s WAFL grand final triumph.
The 24-year-old was overlooked in 2015 but has since emerged as a bulkier inside midfield prospect who will now remain in WA.
It came after the Eagles traded down in draft action on Wednesday, swapping Pick 12 for Pick 14 to pouch a second-round selection at next year’s event.
West Coast grabbed speedy Sandringham midfielder Campbell Chesser with their first pick.
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