As a child Josh Rotham used to wander down to his local park and pretend to undo and hurl an imaginary glove to the turf like West Coast spearhead Quinten Lynch before taking set shots at goal.

But now the fourth-year Eagle is focused on cementing his place in the club’s backline by stopping key forwards from kicking bags.

Rotham took 6PR’s Sportsday WA team on a trip down memory lane last night, recalling some of his fondest footballing memories as a youngster.

The 22-year-old revealed he was a West Coast tragic from day dot and said he was still wrapping his head around the fact that he was a member of the team he once idolised.

“From the time I can remember I supported West Coast. My old man was pretty West Coast mad during the Daniel Kerr, Ben Cousins, Chris Judd and Dean Cox era,” Rotham said.

“I used to go down the park and pretend to throw a glove like Quinten Lynch and now I’m playing in the back line funnily enough.

“I was a little nuffie back then, but it’s awesome now to look back on that. I’ve still got all my little jerseys that I used to wear back then. I’m really fortunate to end up (at the Eagles).”

Rotham, who was recruited to the Eagles with pick No.37 in the 2016 AFL Draft, made his senior debut on the biggest of stages last year during the club’s round three grand final rematch with Collingwood at the MCG.

He held his spot in the starting side for the club’s round four win over Fremantle and made two more AFL appearances in rounds 12 and 22 before finishing his season with the WAFL Eagles.

At season’s end Rotham claimed the state league team's trademark award, which recognises the player who had the most impact throughout the year according to his peers.

And while the West Perth product was chuffed to register four senior appearances and claim the coveted WAFL Eagles prize in 2019, he now has his sights set on securing a permanent spot in the AFL team.

“I think I’ve had a pretty strong off-season,” Rotham said.

“Obviously with all of this Coronavirus stuff coming hopefully it blows over pretty soon and I can fight for a spot.

“It’s just the unknown at the moment with all of that, but I think I’m ready to fight for a spot and hopefully hold it down.”