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HANDING over West Coast's future first-round draft pick was a "huge decision" to make, but list manager Brady Rawlings believes the Eagles are now positioned to rejuvenate their squad by attacking the upcoming NAB AFL Draft.
The Eagles caught many by surprise on trade deadline day by sending their 2018 first-rounder to Gold Coast, along with pick 50 in this year's draft.
But in return West Coast stocked up with three 2017 second-round picks, and also received the Suns' future second-round selection.
Rawlings will now be armed with five picks inside the top 37 at next month's draft.
That hand will aid his task of refreshing the AFL's oldest list, but the call to relinquish a first-round presence in what has been labelled a 'superdraft' next year wasn't taken lightly.
"It's a huge decision, but to be able to do what we wanted to do and not give up any players, obviously something's got to give," Rawlings told AFL.com.au.
"We felt like to be able to do it we needed to be receiving back a future second-round selection, otherwise we would never entertain it.
"We go into next year with two second-round selections, ours and the Suns'.
"Clearly it takes us out of the first round in 12 months' time. We felt like the benefits we get out of this year 12 months in advance was worth doing.
"We like this year's draft based on we're going to be bringing in five new players, so we didn't really want to be picking too many selections at the back end.
"Whilst knowing that next year's first-round does look strong, we didn't want to have to give up any contracted players to improve our position this year."
Sending off retirees Matt Priddis, Sam Mitchell, Drew Petrie, Sam Butler and Jonathan Giles has hastened West Coast's list turnover.
But the Eagles believe they can remain in finals contention next year, and are trying to regenerate at the same time by targeting quality youth.
"We saw this year – based on the amount of retirements we've had – as the year we really need to bring a good amount of kids in," Rawlings said.
"Just because we do that doesn't mean it's a rebuild, it's more a rejuvenation of the list and going from the most mature list to quite a bit younger."
After Priddis and Mitchell's departures, Rawlings' priority during the NAB AFL Trade Period was securing Port Adelaide's big-bodied onballer Brendon Ah Chee to add midfield depth.
The Eagles will look to address some other needs – with explosive runners and pressure small forwards the most urgent requirements – via picks 13, 21, 26, 32 and 37.
"By taking five picks within a pretty close range of each other, that's when we can start to potentially get a blend of players," Rawlings said.
"We feel like we can bring in some quality youth into the squad, and hopefully some fresh young legs and some excitement.
"Brendon coming in as well was something we really wanted to achieve and Port were terrific in our dealings.
"Overall we're happy with the position we're in."
Rawlings said the futures of out-of-contract trio Sharrod Wellingham, Tom Lamb and Josh Hill would be discussed in the coming days now that the Trade Period is over.
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