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Alex Docherty

Rhylee West - Can The Son Of A Bulldog Champion Thrive At AFL Level?


Photo Courtesy Of Getty Images

Scott West is amongst one of the greatest players to ever pull on a Western Bulldogs guernsey. He's a staggering seven-time club best and fairest winner (1995, 97-98, 2000, 2003-05) and a five-time All-Australian (1998, 2000, 2004-06). Growing up watching this man run around in the red, white and blue, the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to watching Scott West play is his stand-out ability to win his own football and win clearances and use the ball well.

He announced his retirement from AFL in 2008 after a career that spanned over 320 games. 10 years on from his last game, his son, Rhylee West is going to join the same club via the AFL Draft, and there is a lot of things to be excited about with this young man. This will be the fifth player that the Bulldogs have on their list that have had fathers represent the club. Mitch Wallis, Tom Liberatore, Zaine Cordy and this year's reigning club best and fairest winner Lachie Hunter have all been recruited over the year's through the father/son drafting process.

What has me genuinely excited about the prospect of the West name coming back onto the Bulldogs list for 2019 is that this kid has all the traits to be a future star in the league. Of course it's always going to be tough to try and live up to your father's name – wherever you go and whatever your profession is. And in the cases of the four names I mentioned just before, I can guarantee you that it isn't easy to live up to a family name. Mitch Wallis' father, Stephen, played 261 games for the Bulldogs, represented Victoria in State of Origin three times and was even a captain in one season (1989). Tom Liberatore's father Tony was a Brownlow Medallist in 1990 and a club best and fairest winner a year later. Lachie Hunter's father, Mark, played 130 games, but was a solid contributor when he was on the park and he loved to kick and Brian Cordy, the father of Zaine, played 124 games for the club.

However, in the case of Rhylee West, this kid almost looks ready to play AFL football straight away, which isn't always the case with draft prospects these days. He knows how to win his own footy, which he has shown time and time again at under-18 level this year, he has got the agility and the acceleration that is required to be a very good midfielder and has even shown at times this year that he can push forward and bob up for a goal or two.

Judging from his interviews with the media, he doesn't appear to be too fazed with with the pressure of living with a name that is very popular in the Western Suburbs. Whilst I would love to see him play games next year, he may struggle to get a spot in the middle, where the likes of Macrae, Hunter, Liberatore, Dunkley and McLean all have made a name for themselves over the past few years, but his ability to hit the scoreboard may see him play a little bit of time up forward in the next couple of years.

To show that he can kick a goal, in the six games that he played for Calder Cannons in the TAC Cup this year, West kicked goals in all but one match. In one particular game late in August, West kicked three goals on the Geelong Falcons and was amongst the best players on the ground that day – the Cannons lost by 15 points that day. So there is scope for him to become a pressure forward next year.

Given that the Bulldogs aren't exactly spoilt for choice with goal-kicking forwards right now, he could find himself in the round one team next year if he has a seamless pre-season. However, it is obvious to even the most casual observer of the AFL that West's best assets are finding the ball, winning it in close and effectively giving it off.

In the under-18 championships this year, West had a few standout games, playing for Vic Metro. There was one match which saw him pick up 31 disposals and five inside 50s in a game against the Allies, and there was another game that saw him pick up 20 contested possessions in what was an dominant midfield game against Western Australia. He averaged 22 disposals and over six clearances per game over the Championships and was rewarded for a stellar campaign, with a spot in the Under-18 All-Australian side.

It's the performances like those two that have talent scouts and recruiters confident that he will go inside the top 20, There's no doubt in my mind, having watched a few videos, that his best football is worthy of a top 20 pick, certainly it could even break the top 15 come draft night.

There is one flaw in his game though, that he has publically admitted on the AFL website, and that is his kicking ability. He's not the worst kick on the ground by any stretch, but there have been moments where his kicking has been off the mark. However, he has already been working on that aspect on his game with none other than his father – the legendary Scott West. When asked about his father on one AFL.com.au article, Rhylee West states that:

“I've got a special opportunity where my dad is my coach... That's not something that every kid's dad gets to do. And his teachings are from the best and that's why I've excelled so much and become the player I am today because of that.”

He also shares from another article on the AFL website about how valuable his dad has been for him.

“Dad's someone I can bounce any questions off because he watches all the levels of footy I play... He's been an assistant coach at AFL level and has coached in the VFL, so he's good at critiquing my games and being that coach at home.”

I won't harp on about Luke Dahlhaus too much, because I already have written enough about him, but without him leaving, the Dogs wouldn't have had that compensation pick that would more than likely be needed to secure Rhylee West. The Dogs have pick seven in this year's draft, but it's extremely unlikely that a bid will not be made until around picks 15-20 – the Bulldogs' next draft pick comes at 27, which will most likely be used to secure him.

I'm confident that the Western Bulldogs have a talented young man on their hands with Rhylee West. Even if he's half as good as his father, he will still be a very good player to have and a welcome addition to the side, when he gets his opportunity. Will he be in the 22 come round one next year? It's possible, but for now, let's just see how he develops at the club over the Summer, and we'll pick up in the JLT series.

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