AFL draft: Rhylee West heads to Western Bulldogs as father-son pick

WESTERN Bulldogs father-son pick Rhylee West is ready to carry on his family’s legacy at Whitten Oval from Round 1 next year, says Calder Cannons coach Ross Smith.

Rhylee West shoots a handball out of congestion for Calder Cannons.

WESTERN Bulldogs father-son pick Rhylee West is ready to carry on his family’s legacy at Whitten Oval from Round 1 next year, says Calder Cannons coach Ross Smith.

The tenacious on-baller, whose father Scott was a legend of the Bulldogs and won seven best-and-fairests during a decorated 324-game AFL career, joined the club with pick no. 26 after they matched a bid from Melbourne.

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“I think he’s nearly ready to play in his first year because he’s a very mature 18-year-old,” Smith said.

West averaged 19.3 disposals, 5.5 tackles, 2.2 marks and 1.2 goals per game in six TAC Cup matches this year, highlighting his talents with 29 possessions, four marks and six tackles against Eastern Ranges.

Smith said West, a tough inside midfielder, would draw comparisons to Melbourne captain Jack Viney.

Rhylee West shone for Vic Metro at the under-18 national carnival. Picture: Tony Gough

“That’s the sort of player they are going to get. Someone who is extremely competitive,” Smith said.

“Sometimes it gets him into trouble, like it does Viney, but they play on the edge quite a bit. “He’s about as hard at it as they come. A little bit different to his old man, who had a little bit of flair about him.

“(There’s) probably not a lot of flair about Westy, but Rhylee is a hard-nosed midfielder. “Really strong inside and he’s not too bad outside. He’s a very good mark for his side when he goes forward.”

Dream realised.

Here's the moment Rhylee West became a Bulldog! 🐶#AFLDraft pic.twitter.com/somIxFGofM

— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) November 23, 2018

Bulldogs national recruiting manager Nick Austin said the club was thrilled to land West.

“While he is elite with his stoppage work, he is also creative when he has the footy and has the vision to think beyond the contest,” Austin said.

“He has a hard edge, is extremely competitive, and has an impressive vertical leap. We can’t wait to see what he can produce for the Bulldogs.”

West said he understood why people drew comparisons between his playing style and his father.

“I see some of his highlights and it is some of the stuff I try and do out on the field,” West said in May.

“I can definitely see why people compare us.”

Rhylee West vies for possession against Eastern Ranges.

Smith said he expected the Strathmore junior would start as a forward/midfielder at the Bulldogs before transitioning into a full-time on-ball role.

“He knows he is going to carve his own path,” he said.

“They are always compared to their fathers when they first start and then the fathers are quickly forgotten once they start.

“They carve their own career. He knows he’s probably not going to win seven best-and-fairests at the Dogs, but he has certainly got the talent to play a few hundred games if he gets lucky along the way.”

Vic Metro coach Martin Allison said West was in the “top bracket” of contested-ball winners in this year’s draft crop after the Under-18 National Championships.

West averaged 21 disposals during the carnival, gathering 25 possessions and nine clearances against WA and 28 disposals during Vic Metro’s win over the Allies.

His performances were rewarded with All-Australian selection.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge confirmed West, who was listed at 180cm and 81kg, was on the club’s radar in July and the midfielder has trained with the club.

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