Livewire small forward Malakai Champion appears set to join West Coast during this week's AFL National Draft, with the club officially nominating him as a Next Generation Academy player.
Champion is considered one of Western Australia's best draft prospects and has impressed with his strong finishing ability in front of goal in the WAFL this year.
The 18-year-old has already had experience training with the Eagles and credits his time spent at the club as a motivating factor during his journey.
"It's given me a lot more motivation to become an AFL player," Champion told CODE Sports.
"It's driven me to become a better player – things like being able to access the gym, recovery and the locker room, it made me feel a part of the club.
"Being in that environment makes me feel so happy … if any club picks me, I'd be on top of the world, but it would be good to go to West Coast."
The 172cm forward told AFL.com.au he felt welcomed straight away during his time with the club.
"The first day I walked in I just felt welcome straight away," Champion said.
"The first thing I realised was they are just normal blokes, you obviously have the blokes who are really dialled in, the blokes that like to have fun and the blokes that like to make others happy.
"I knew a couple of the Indigenous players in Tyrell (Dewar), Tyler (Brockman) and Liam (Ryan), they helped me straight away.
"I was there to do the pre-season and the running was the hardest running I'd ever done."
Champion played nine WAFL Colts games for Subiaco in 2024 averaging 14 disposals per game.
The talented teenager made his senior debut for the Lions against West Coast in Round 17 and finished with three goals while applying plenty of defensive pressure on the opposition's defenders.
He followed up his debut with consecutive two-goal efforts against Swan Districts and Perth.
At representative level, Champion kicked six goals from four appearances for Western Australia, including a three-goal performance against eventual champions Vic Metro.
He was also impressive at the Draft Combine, finishing fifth in the 20m sprint (2.93 seconds) and second in the agility testing (7.83).
Champion has football in the bloodlines as the nephew of former Adelaide and Carlton superstar Eddie Betts and he is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his legendary uncle in becoming a role model for young Indigenous kids.
"I want to be someone that Indigenous kids really look up to, my Indigenous idols are Eddie Betts and Cyril Rioli, you grew up wanting to be like them," he told Code Sports.
"To have little kids look up to me as a footy player would mean a lot, I hope I'm on the right path to be that to other Indigenous kids."
