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WEST Perth onballer Mark Hutchings is a ready-made AFL midfielder and could be a steal for whoever punts on the St Kilda reject, according to his WAFL coach Bill Monaghan. Hutchings, 20, was the captain of WA's victorious under-18s team in 2009 and spent 2010 on the Saints' rookie list but didn't play an AFL game before being delisted after one season.
The gutsy ball winner, originally from East Perth, switched to the Falcons in 2011 and averaged 21 possessions a game in the WAFL this season.
Hutchings made recruiters from around the country take notice with a scorching testing session at the State Draft Combine last Sunday.
Significantly for a player who had previously been criticised for a lack of pace, Hutchings' time of 2.83sec for the 20m sprint was faster than any time recorded at the National Draft Combine and was .27sec faster than the time he posted in 2009.
Eagles have landed their biggest pre-season signing by securing St Kilda grand final player Robert Eddy for the next two years.
The 23-year-old midfielder joins Woodville-West Torrens after playing 33 AFL games with the Saints, including both of the 2010 grand finals against Collingwood.
Eddy was courted by other SANFL clubs but his friendship with former St Kilda team-mate Phil Raymond was a crucial factor in luring him to Oval Ave.
``When the SANFL competition became a viable alternative for me my preference was to play for the Eagles where I already have some really good relationships from my time in the AFL system,'' he said.
``So I am thrilled that the club wanted me too.''
Eddy was rookie-listed by St Kilda in 2007, delisted at the end of 2010 then re-rookied for 2011 but failed to play a game.
Now he's ready for his next challenge.
``Having watched (this year's) grand final I know I will be coming into a midfield that has some real depth and I look forward to establishing myself as an important part of it,'' he said.
Eagles coach Michael Godden said Eddy was a recruiting priority.
``Robert was our priority and from what we know a number of other clubs' recruiting priority so I am really pleased that we have got our man in that respect,'' Godden said.
``Although he has been recruited as a midfielder, he has the ability to play at both half-forward and half-back which is important to our structure.''
Eddy joins Robert Shirley, Byron Sumner, Jarrod Harding and Chris Kane as off-season recruits at Woodville.
23 Apr 2011
Dromana
Goal Kickers: D. Minchington 4, R. Hawkins 3, S. Gaertner 2, P. McLean Wilson 2, T. Banks , P. Minchington
Best Players: D. Day, R. Johnston, L. Hogan, S. Gaertner, D. Minchington, S. Clarke
After Greater Western Sydney showed only a flicker of interest in former St Kilda defender Steve Baker, he decided to look elsewhere.
The veteran Saint has signed at Craigie*burn in the Essendon District League.
Craigieburn coach and Essendon premiership player Paul Barnard says the Giants had some interest in picking up the 203-game AFL veteran after he was cut by the Saints last year.
"We weren't sure whether he was going to GWS, they raised an eyebrow of interest in him," he said.
Barnard said nabbing Baker was a recruiting coup and he joins former St Kilda teammate and ruckman Barry Brooks, ex-Hawthorn midfielder Angelo Lekkas and ex-Carlton defender Ange Christou in the Eagles' nest.