The West Coast Eagles today welcomed East Fremantle midfielder Jordan Snadden to the footy club with their first selection (pick 17) in the NAB AFL Rookie Draft.



A member of the NAB AFL Academy, Snadden boasts impressive speed around the ground, with a bigger body that’s well suited to an inside midfielder’s role.



Currently holidaying south of Perth, Snadden was overcome with emotion after being selected by the three-time premiership club.



“I was just on the balcony by myself at the place we are staying at, watching it on my phone and saw my name come up at number 17 and just lost it. I’ve never been so happy and just couldn’t believe it,” Snadden explains.



“It was disappointing to miss out on Tuesday with the national draft but I knew deep down that I had a better chance of getting selected in the rookie draft.



“In the end, it doesn’t matter now. I’m just so thankful to get the opportunity at the Eagles and I just can’t wait to get started.”



After playing the past three seasons with the Sharks at Colts level and for WA in the under-18 national championships, the Eagles recruiting team believe the young left footer has plenty of potential to make it at the top level.



“Jordan is a young player that we believe has plenty of upside, which is exactly what you are looking for in the rookie draft,” says WA Recruiting Scout Trevor Woodhouse.



“He is a strong built, left-footed midfielder with good pace and skills.



“Perhaps other recruiters didn’t think he had as good a year as other players around him and that’s why he slipped this late, but we were thrilled to snag him when we did.”



The club’s following three selections were set aside to re-draft previously delisted Eagles Brant Colledge (pick 35), Alec Waterman (pick 51) and Simon Tunbridge (pick 61).



Colledge produced at outstanding season at WAFL level for East Perth in 2015 and was rewarded with another shot at his AFL dream, while both Waterman and Tunbridge had their seasons end abruptly through injury.