West Coast youngster Jarrod Brander is being monitored by rival clubs this off-season following a string of re-signings made by the Eagles in recent days, reportsย AFL Media.ย
The 21-year old Victorian has only made 11 appearances across his first three seasons at the Eagles, with this year being the best of the lot, playing eight of those 11 games in 2020.
Key forward Josh Kennedy and premiership captain Shannon Hurn re-signed on one-year extensions, whilst wingman Andrew Gaff triggered an extension that will see him in the blue and gold until 2024.
West Coast have also locked away emerging key forward Jake Waterman for a further three years, shoring up their stocks in the tall forward position.
Son of a gun Jake Waterman will stay in the blue and gold!
Read: https://t.co/hYIufsHHSY pic.twitter.com/FpoMSBWdZs
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) October 9, 2020
Brander was taken with the 13th pick in the 2017 AFL Draft as a key position prospect, standing at 195cm.
However, in these eight games this year, Brander has seen more minutes on the wing as opposed to a role as a key position player.
A persistent hip injury and form towards the back-end of the year meant that Brander had to sit on the sidelines as the Eagles were shockingly eliminated by Collingwood in last Saturdayโs final.
Jarrod Brander + Pick 30 for Someone Who Is Immediately Useful would be just fine by me
— Ryan Buckland (@RyanBuckland7) October 9, 2020
Geelong had tossed the idea of getting Brander in return in the massive package deal for Tim Kelly last year, but that was quickly mooted.
Brander remains contracted with the Eagles until the end of the 2021 season, and the Eagles do see him as a required player beyond that.
