Western Bulldogs eyeing Footscray VFL defender Reuben William in mid-season draft

The Western Bulldogs have to pay out concussion victim Liam Picken’s entire contract but they might replace the injured star on their list with a man who came to Australia via a Kenyan refugee camp.

Reuben William spent time with the Lions. Pic: Getty Images

Western Bulldogs will consider replacing Liam Picken with a footballer who grew up in a Kenyan refugee camp at this month’s mid-season draft.

The Bulldogs have a pick courtesy of Picken’s retirement and have been watching Reuben William, who signed at Footscray after he was delisted by Brisbane Lions in 2017.

Picken will receive his full salary — around $1 million for 2018-19 — without playing a game in his final contract because of concussion issues.

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William, 21, was born in South Sudan and arrived in Australia via the refugee camp. He is averaging 72 SuperCoach points and 14.3 disposals in the VFL this season.

The 183cm defender was in the Dogs mix for last year’s rookie draft although he is no certainty to receive a second AFL lifeline on May 27. His form has not drastically improved since last season.

Reuben William in 2016, when at the Lions. Pic: Getty Images

William in the Footscray VFL colours. Pic: AAP

William’s father, Deng, died during Sudan’s civil war and the family fled to Brisbane via Darwin in 2002, when he was four.

The footy-mad youngster quickly fell in love with Australian rules and played three games for the Lions in 2016.

William rebuffed several state-league offers, including one from SANFL giant Central Districts, to join the VFL Dogs last year.

Given William is at the aligned VFL team, he would not have to spend too much time learning coach Luke Beveridge’s game plan should the Dogs draft him.

Premiership hero Picken was re-signed early in 2017 — fresh off his blistering finals series — before a pre-season blow to the head last year ultimately ended his career.

“He’s unemployed to a sense that he doesn’t have to turn up to work, but we’re still paying Liam,” Dogs football boss Chris Grant said recently.

Liam Picken will get every cent of his contract. Pic: Getty Images

“We’re very committed to him. Sometimes if a player is retiring, and they want to retire but you’re not necessarily totally in agreeance … you may come to a negotiation with that player.

“But for someone like Liam, in our eyes, that’s non-negotiable. We’re very keen to support Liam through the remainder of the year.”

Nominations for the mid-season draft closed on Friday with 312 players putting their hand up.

The AFL will now decide whether to fatten that pool with a raft of players who didn’t meet the eligibility criteria because they did not nominate for the 2018 national draft.

Player agent Adam Ramanauskas has urged the AFL to let them in.

“Just open it up. Whoever wants to nominate can nominate,” he said.

The Dogs are likely to have an early pick in the mid-season draft given it is ordered in reverse ladder positions after Round 10.