Young Eagles player Malakai Champion has been helped off the deck at preseason training on Wednesday.

Vision captured and shared online shows Champion, who debuted for West Coast in round 17, appearing in some discomfort and reaching at his leg before being helped up and throwing both arms over club staff as he made his way off the ground.

The exciting small forward walked while being aided.

A hiccup to his preparations for 2026 would be a massive blow after showing promising signs in his first year at the Eagles.

The 19-year-old put together solid performances in West Coast's WAFL team before earning a senior selection in July.

Champion, a lightning quick forward from Kalgoorlie, played two senior games in 2025.

He was the Eagles' eighth debutant for the year in another season of struggle for West Coast.

Plucked out of the clubs NGA Academy as a Category B rookie selection in November 2024, Champion had made his WAFL league debut with Subiaco earlier that year, having progressed through the club's futures and colts programs in the two seasons previous.

He debuted in senior country footy at 15 with Mines Rovers in the Goldfields Football League.

"It's a really special story with Malakai. He's been on a journey and we took him as part of our Next Generation Academy," West Coast coach Andrew McQualter said ahead of his AFL debut earlier this year.

"He came to the club at the start of this year and probably wasn't ready for AFL footy. He'd be the first to admit that, but he's worked really hard this year and really hard on his game.

"He's got himself fit, he's really consistent with the role he's playing at WAFL level, and he's just put consistent performances together, so it's a great opportunity for him to play."