The AFL has confirmed the added assistance the West Coast Eagles will receive as the once mighty club tries to crawl off the league canvas.
Since finishing a relatively competitive 10-12 back in 2021, the Eagles have a combined 11-80 record over the past four seasons.
That includes two wooden spoons, four straight bottom-three finishes and a club-worst one solitary victory in 2025.
To aid its attempted revival, West Coast will receive an additional late first-round pick and four rookie-list spots that can be used over the next three seasons.
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“It is important that we have a competitively balanced competition and that fans can feel that on any day, in any game, their team can win,” new AFL footy boss Greg Swann said.
“The Eagles have won only nine games in the past three seasons and finished in the bottom three of the ladder in the past four seasons.
“We have been working with the club on how assistance can improve their on-field performance to return to being competitive.
“This package is structured to assist the club in the development of their younger playing group by adding the four additional rookie list spots it allows them to invest in additional talent.”
The AFL has retained the right to review the additions in 2027 and 2028, while they were welcomed by West Coast chief executive Don Pyke.
“We sincerely appreciate the AFL’s engagement, consideration and approval of the club’s request,” Pyke said.
“Submitting an assistance request was not a decision we took lightly and the club accepts and takes responsibility for previous decisions which contributed to our current situation of four successive years of bottom-three finishes.
“There have been comprehensive changes at senior levels of our club and football department recently, including the appointments of our senior coach Andrew McQualter and head of football John Worsfold.
“Our submission highlighted factors — such as the compromised nature of recent national drafts — that have increased the challenge of rebuilding our playing list, while also considering the broader implications for the competition of sustained poor on-field performance.
“Equalisation is a core pillar of the AFL and, as such, we believed our club qualified for assistance, which we are committed to using responsibly in alignment with our clear list management strategy to take us forward."