West Coast Eagles recruit Jack Graham happy to play selfless midfield role, let Elliot Yeo, Harley Reid soar

West Coast recruit Jack Graham is aiming to complement explosive midfielders Elliot Yeo and Harley Reid as well as take his game to the “next level”. Graham, 26, joined the WA club as an unrestricted free agent this off-season, signing a four-year deal to ply his trade across the other side of the country. The South Australian played 132 games and won two premierships (2017 and 2020) in eight seasons at Richmond after being drafted with pick No.53 in 2016. A runner-up in their fairest and best in 2021, Graham has little doubts that his best was yet to come and hoped a new environment at Mineral Resources Park would help him get there. “I feel like I can still take my game to the next level. I’m only 26, (turning) 27 in February,” Graham said. “There’s a lot of potential and I can push myself to get the best out of my and my new teammates. “I thought where I am in my career, something new is kind of what I need just to ramp things up again so when talk started happening about this (a move to West Coast) I was excited by it and thought ‘why not give it a go?’.” Part of that development for Graham is establishing a spot inside the Eagles’ midfield alongside John Worsfold medallists Tim Kelly and Elliot Yeo as well as rising stars Elijah Hewett and Harley Reid. “That hasn’t been discussed just yet, but obviously I can play forward and in the midfield so I’m sure there will be a bit of a balance between there,” Graham said. “Ideally in the midfield with my transition running, that’s probably my biggest strength, (getting) contest to contest. “We’ve got a lot of explosive midfielders in there. Yeoy and Harley Reid are exciting players who are explosive, so I might have to chop in there and help out with the transition running. I am happy to put my hand up for that.” One thing Graham won’t be doing is stirring up former Richmond teammate and Fremantle recruit Shai Bolton ahead of their first western derby clash in round three. “I wouldn’t say anything to Shai because he will get me holding the ball or sell me candy or something like that. He’s pretty a special player,” Graham said. “Maybe a bit closer to the game there might be a few works said but nah bad karma if I said something because he would sneak up on me and get me holding the ball or kick four goals on me.”