By Tara Murray
The West name will be back in a Western Bulldogs jumper next season, with the Bulldogs selecting Rhylee West in Friday’s AFL national draft.
Rhylee, the son of Bulldogs legend Scott West, had long been touted as a father-son pick-up for the Bulldogs – and that with the dream coming a reality last week.
There were a few nervous moments first before West, a Calder Cannon, officially became a Bulldog.
Melbourne put in a bid for West at pick 26, but the Bulldogs had no hesitations in matching it.
For West, it’s a dream come true.
“It’s a pretty exciting time,” West said on the Western Bulldogs website after the draft.
“I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me. It’s great to be in the moment right now and I look forward to playing with the boys.”
For West, heading to Whitten Oval will not be a new experience – he was around the club while his father played and he spent some time training with the squad last year as part of the AFL Academy.
“I was there last year in December and they were great and they got around me heaps,” he said.
“I’ve known a few of the guys prior to that, like Mitchy Wallis and Tom Liberatore, and they’ve been really good to me.”
West is the latest in a long line of father-son picks on the Bulldogs’ list that includes Ayce Cordy, Lachie Hunter, Wallis and Liberatore.
Like West, Wallis and Liberatore came through the Calder Cannons system.
“It’s a bit weird think about it – that all our names played together 20 years ago and now we’re playing again together,” West said.
“It’s pretty special for the fans, as well.”
Scott West, who won seven best and fairests with the Bulldogs, told the club’s website that he was relieved that Rhylee has been picked up by the Bulldogs.
“They have shown a lot of interest,” he said.
“I’m pretty proud of what he has achieved. I think he’s had a good as year as any kid that has been drafted.
“I wasn’t nervous about him being drafted … it was whether the Bulldogs picked him
“There is some romance of him going there as a father-son – he just loves playing football.”
West was one of four Cannons players selected in the draft.
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