West Coast coach Andrew McQualter can’t wait to see the two newest Eagles in action after recruiting Tom McCarthy and Jacob Newton in Wednesday’s Mid-Season Rookie Draft.

McCarthy was long touted to join the Eagles from Richmond’s VFL team and did so via the first selection, while 19-year-old Newton was taken with pick No.9 having impressed during his draft year last season before a navicular setback dented his chances of being picked up. 

McCarthy is set to run out for the WAFL Eagles on Saturday against Swan Districts to complete a whirlwind week, however Newton will have to wait a little longer to pull on the blue and gold due to a minor quad strain.

“It’s a really exciting time. We were able to secure two players in the draft last night which just provides great opportunity for us and them,” McQualter said.

“Tom’s a 24-year-old, a bit of a different pathway in his juniors – he didn’t play a lot of the elite pathway – he came from south-east Melbourne and then stepped into a VFL program last year and has really improved his footy over the last 18 months.

“We’re rapt to have him. He’ll play more half-back, potentially midfield over a period of time.

“Unfortunately, Jacob had an injury last year. We actually had him rated on our draft board reasonably high, but the injury just put him in a bit of doubt for last year.

“He came back and has played some senior footy this year, mainly up forward kicking some goals, but we know he can play in the midfield in future as well.

“A great opportunity for those two guys.”

An extra spot on the list was opened to recruit Newton due to the unfortunate season-ending shoulder injury suffered by star forward Jake Waterman.

The All-Australian goalkicker will undergo surgery in coming days but is remaining a strong presence around the group.

“Incredibly unfortunate to lose Jake for the rest of the year. He’ll have surgery later this week or next week and miss the season,” McQualter said.

“You never want to lose your leaders. He’s doing well. We had a session off-site yesterday he turned up to, he was in good spirits.

“He’s obviously disappointed not to be able to help the team on-field, but he’ll be able to help us off-field no doubt.”

The Eagles face a huge challenge on WA Day eve against Geelong, which boasts a 7-4 win-loss record this year, plus one of the AFL’s most dangerous forwards in Jeremy Cameron.

The classy left-footer snared nine goals last time the teams met in round 24 last year at the Cattery – and the Eagles are still without champion defender Jeremy McGovern (concussion protocols).

“We appreciate how good of a player he is. He’s a superstar of the competition,” McQualter said of Cameron.

“He can play high, can play a bit of midfield (like) a couple of weeks ago, and he obviously gets deep and plays there as well.

“We’re going to have a few plans for him, clearly, but like any key forward in the competition or key back the only way to actually stop them is pressure on the ball.”

In pleasing news for West Coast, injury-plagued wingman Campbell Chesser will return from ankle surgery and play his first game this season in the WAFL Eagles’ clash with Swans.

Speedster Jack Petruccelle is also a chance to play following a shoulder complaint.