AFL draft: West Coast Eagles take Peel Thunder’s Bo Allan with top pick after surprise slip down order

West Coast have landed the local gem after top West Australian draftee Bo Allan sensationally slid to pick No.16, with the teenager declaring it a “weight off the shoulders” to land at the Eagles.

Allan was considered a strong top-10 chance but ended up still being available at the WA club after Richmond looked elsewhere with their two preceding picks.

The WA Under-18 captain was touted to be on the radar of both the Tigers and Melbourne, who both held several picks before either of his local clubs.

Yet as the count slipped into the teens, Allan’s name was still yet to be called out, and the possibility of heading to the Eagles was quickly becoming a reality.

Then when the Eagles got on the clock they pulled an incredible move, live trading out pick No.15 with the Port Adelaide to slide down the order one more pick and also land No.44 on night two.

The Power recruited Victorian small forward Joe Berry and the Eagles then struck on the Peel Thunder league premiership player, with dual premiership skipper and club legend John Worsfold handing Allan his guernsey.

“There was a little bit of talk about that (going to Richmond or Melbourne)... I still wasn’t certain what was happening,” Allan told The West Australian.

“And with the picks moving and changing as well it was getting even tougher. The Eagles were getting closer and the fingers were crossing.

“It’s a weight off the shoulders to stay home and play for such a great club. It’s an absolute honour.”

A ready-made AFL player at 191cm and with nearly a dozen league games experience at the Thunder, Allan is confident he can challenge for a spot in the Eagles’ best 23 for next season.

“I’ve had some experience now against the bigger bodies and definitely back myself to be pushing for that selection. I will doing everything I can,” he said.

“The first year of footy I will set some goals for myself, but I’d like to just get stuck into pre-season and gain some respect from the players and coaching staff as well as settle in.”

A Fremantle fan, Allan will have to prepare himself for a career of battles against his former teammates who he played alongside a premiership with at the Fremantle’s WAFL alignment club Peel Thunder.

“Playing against some of those guys I’ve been playing with, it’ll be good,” he said.

“There’s always a big of friendship but on the field it’s gameday and it’ll change.”