At the end of each year, West Coast will welcome at least one interstate player into the fold courtesy of the national and rookie drafts.

Being the new kid at a professional football club is nerve-racking enough, and for the interstate players, this challenge is only amplified by moving away from family, friends and everything they’ve ever known, to the other side of the country.

Luckily for the Eagles, there is a network of local families who are only too willing to make this transition a little easier.

Among them are Paul and Maureen Marsh. They signed on to become ‘host parents’ to Victorian Ashley Smith when he was drafted at the end of 2008, opening their home and hearts to a teenager they’d never met.

“I couldn’t think of anything better,” Maureen begins. “Both our sons are away and I really miss them, so having Ash has just been wonderful for us.

“Our boys were over the moon. They call him ‘The Little Bro’. [Oldest son] Daniel takes a real interest and came up with the nickname ‘Helmet Head’ because of his obsession with the hair straightener and hair products for that ‘boofy’ hairdo look. They just get on so well, Ash has got a wicked sense of humour.”

West Coast player services co-ordinator Ian Miller explains that identifying prospective families is an intensive process which relies heavily on gut feel. In ten years, Miller’s gut has never been wrong.

“There’s no science to it at all,” Ian offers. “Over the last few years I’ve made contacts through our members, through other host families, through friends. I meet with them and talk to them about what’s involved, particularly about being in a close family environment so it’s like the player is back at home.

“I warn the hosties that in the early days, the boys will be tired. They train twice a day during the pre-season, so if they come home and walk in and grunt like all teenagers do and then go to their room, it’s not because they don’t like you, they’re probably asleep.

“The players pay their families a small board per week, but they eat 99 percent of it, leaving one percent for the washing powder! So the families are obviously not in it for the money. It’s about the relationships they build.”

Host dad Paul agrees, adding that he also enjoyed having Ash around to help out with the computer and explain iPods.

“I’m useless with that sort of stuff, that’s why you have kids,” Paul says with a laugh. “At the end of the day, the boys have very strong relationships with their host families, all the parents have said that.

“Even when they move out, you never really lose them, just like your kids.”

Ian is quick to pay tribute to the families who create such a loving environment for the club’s new recruits, some of whom have been hosting players for over ten years.

“They take on a massive commitment,” Ian says. “Even after they’ve moved out, they go and watch the players play in the WAFL, they invite them back for dinner regularly, drop casseroles around. The West Coast Eagles are so lucky that these people provide such a good base for our players to go forward.

“What’s massive for the footy club is that these people are working for the boys who are not their sons or even their relatives, but they’re happy to do that. Without that support, how do these players make it over here in an AFL environment? She’s a tough caper!

“When they leave the host family, there’s always going to be someone here in Perth that they can go to if they’re in trouble, because they have that relationship, they’ve got that safety net.”