Waterman to return to Eagles - as a WAFL player

John Townsend

West Coast have convinced power forward Alec Waterman to join their WAFL team next season in the hope of being picked up as a top-up player in the preseason or during the midseason draft.

Waterman, who kicked 27 goals in 22 matches for Essendon over the past two seasons before being delisted in October, resisted a strong bid from Claremont to return to his original club.

He will have limited contact with the Eagles as a contracted WAFL player but is confident he would be the first option as a replacement for an injured player.

West Coast have a full complement of 46 senior, rookie and Category B players.

But Fremantle speedster Joel Western is set to rejoin the Tigers after being cut by the Dockers.

It is not known if small forward Zac Langdon will return to Claremont after being surprisingly delisted by West Coast with a year to go on his contract.

Waterman, 26, could become the first Eagle – apart from great family friend Paul Peos - to have two separate stints at the club.

The powerful left-footer was drafted as a father-son selection in 2014 but did not play a match for West Coast after being struck down by illness and anxiety.

Waterman fought his way back to full fitness and after a brilliant season for Claremont in 2020, when he won the club’s fairest-and-best medal, was the leading goal-kicker and steered the Tigers into the grand final, was given a second chance by Essendon.

Waterman’s brother Jake has played 73 games for the Eagles while their father Chris, a dual premiership player, made 177 appearances for the club.

IMAGE: FILE