AFTER training with Fremantle for three weeks, Brad Dick was surprised to land at West Coast in Tuesday's NAB AFL Rookie Draft, but the former Collingwood forward says he is simply happy to be relaunching his AFL career in his home state.

Dick, who played 27 games for the Magpies in an injury-riddled four seasons, was snared by the Eagles with pick No.68 on Tuesday after Fremantle overlooked the talented goalsneak with its first five selections.  

The 23-year-old met with Fremantle coach Ross Lyon in Melbourne early in the off-season and was invited to train with the club, but he also had meetings with West Coast last week, paving the way for his selection in Tuesday's draft. 

"My manager spoke to West Coast and I came in last week and had a chat with 'Woosha' (coach John Worsfold)," Dick said.

"They said they'd leave it up to the doctors [and] they gave me the all clear.

"I'm very happy back home. I always wanted to come back home so it's good to get the opportunity and hopefully my luck can change now."

Dick underwent a second knee reconstruction this year and has also had two shoulder reconstructions, prompting Collingwood to de-list the talented forward at the end of the 2011 season.

He faces another knee clean out in the coming weeks and will be on a modified pre-season program, with no timeframe currently mapped out for his return to full training.

"The main thing is getting my body right and hopefully pushing through the WAFL," he said. "I'm just glad to be on an AFL list."

West Coast recruited four new players in Tuesday's rookie draft, with Northern Knights wingman Michael Mascoulis (pick No.15), East Fremantle half-forward Callum Papertalk (No.33) and former GWS forward Simon Tunbridge (No.51) joining Dick.

Tunbridge, who walked out on the Giants in October citing homesickness, was invited to train with West Coast but chose to complete a solo program in his hometown of Dongara with a personal trainer before joining WAFL club Perth for training in recent weeks. 

"I thought it was better for me to come home, knowing that I might not play AFL footy at all," the teenager, who was one of the Giants' pre-listed 17-year-old selections last year, said.

"They (GWS) gave me a great opportunity, but it just wasn't for me. I just wanted to be home playing footy in WA.

"I've been waiting a while and I'm just glad it's happened. It's good to be here with great coaches and leaders around the club."

Papertalk, a 185cm half-forward from East Fremantle, said he was both shocked and relieved when West Coast selected him on Tuesday. 

"It's a good club to come to at this time," he said. "With finals last year, they're obviously looking for a premiership and that's good to be involved with at any club."

Mascoulis missed three months of football this year because of hamstring injuries and didn't play in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.

However, national recruiting manager Rohan O'Brien said West Coast believed he had "some quality" and would add depth to the club's list. 

"He's a left-footed winger with good skills and he's a nice size, so he's maybe a little bit different to what we've got on our list currently," O'Brien said.  

Nathan Schmook covers West Coast news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_NSchmook