West Coast Eagles set to land Liam Baker, Jack Graham after hiring Andrew McQualter as coach

Andrew McQualter hasn’t been West Coast coach for 24 hours but his appointment is already having an impact with the Eagles set to land two new recruits on the back of his signing. Richmond duo Liam Baker and Jack Graham are reportedly set to land at the Eagles because of their close connection with McQualter who was an assistant and caretaker coach at the Tigers. Baker had already requested a trade home to WA, but the Subiaco product is set to nominate the Eagles over Fremantle as his preferred destination to join McQualter. West Coast will have to trade for the out-of-contract Baker though, with speculation a deal could be reached that involves Hawthorn’s pick No.13 that the Eagles could land for a deal with premiership defender Tom Barrass. Baker has played 128 games for the Tigers including premierships in 2019 and 2020 after being picked up by the club as a rookie in 2018. Graham will cost West Coast nothing though as a free agent, with the club reportedly tabling a four-year offer to get the speedster across to WA. Also a two-time premiership player, Graham is believed to have a similar deal at the Tigers but is good friends with Baker and close to McQualter. West Coast could pick up Graham, who has played 131 games for the Tigers, as soon as Friday when the free agency period opens. Fellow Tiger Shai Bolton is also wanting to return to WA but the Eagles are unlikely to be able to get a trade done with the star forward still having four years to run on his contract. Fremantle are in the box seat to land Bolton given they have three first-round draft picks this year, with the premiership forward likely to cost them two of those. West Coast are set to be active in this year’s trade period with Barrass and veteran Jack Darling both requesting trades to Hawthorn and North Melbourne respectively. The Eagles also have four players in contract limbo in Josh Rotham, Alex Witherden, Coby Burgiel and Luke Edwards with the appointment of a coach seen as an obstacle to making a decision on their futures.