THE WESTERN Bulldogs have snared former West Coast midfielder Koby Stevens in exchange for pick 44 at next month's NAB AFL Draft.
The 21-year-old Victorian, who played 11 games in three seasons with the Eagles, last week chose the Bulldogs as his intended destination after considering offers from Essendon and St Kilda.
Bulldogs list manager Jason McCartney was excited about Stevens' potential in a young, developing team.
"Koby is a high-quality person, with outstanding training habits, and will add depth to the club’s midfield," he said.
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"His big, strong body, along with a terrific attitude to his football, make him a great acquisition to our football club."
The fierce inside player - who is also a strong overhead mark - appears ideally suited to Whitten Oval, where coach Brendan McCartney rates hardness perhaps above all else.
The Bulldogs believe Stevens, who found it difficult to break into the Eagles' midfield, will thrive on being given more opportunities to prove his worth at AFL level.
Stevens will add to a onball group that already comprises youngsters Mitch Wallis, Tom Liberatore, Luke Dahlhaus and Clay Smith.
Stevens and fellow tough nut Smith played at the same junior club, Lucknow in Gippsland, and their fathers work together at the Patties Pies factory.
The Bulldogs recruit will have the opportunity to bond with his new teammates when he joins them next week on their trip to London, where they will play Port Adelaide in an exhibition match.
After captaining an AIS-AFL Under-17 tour of Europe and starring for Gippsland Power in the TAC Cup Under-18 competition, Stevens was the Eagles' second pick, No.23 overall, in the 2009 draft.
Despite showing much promise, Stevens was starved of senior opportunities with the Eagles.
After playing five games late in his debut season of 2010, he managed just six appearances in the past two seasons.
However, he managed to remain a solid contributor for WAFL club East Fremantle, where he averaged 21 disposals in 48 games.
