Loyal, unassuming, reliable, honest, and a penetrating kick are some of the many attributes the 2018 Eagles premiership captain and club games record-holder is known for.
Hurn’s decision to draw close on a highly distinguished career is the beginning of what Adam Simpson describes as a pretty quick list transition, believing West Coast will have one of the youngest lists very soon.
The rebuild is in full swing and there could be more announcements as captain Luke Shuey and Nic Naitanui weigh up their futures.
Should the duo follow Hurn’s lead, then more experience, leadership and top-end talent will depart.
The “top-end talent” I’m referring to is in terms of their selection from their various draft years.
The trio mentioned above are three of only 10 first-round draftees on the Eagles’ list, which includes Sam Petrevski-Seton, who crossed from Carlton.
Others include Andrew Gaff and Dom Sheed, who are closer to the end than the start.
Liam Duggan, alongside Oscar Allen, is leading the way to be the next skipper.
But following Duggan’s name being called out at number 11 in 2014, there’s a major whole of premium, A-grade talent missing.
In 2015, Luke Partington was the first Eagle called at 28 and managed only six games.
A year later, the now-retired Daniel Venables was taken, followed by Jarrod Brander, who is now playing country footy for Wentworth, his home town in New South Wales.
The Tim Kelly deal had picks galore walk out the door, before Campbell Chesser was welcomed in 2021, and, most recently, the addition of Reuben Ginbey and Elijah Hewett.
Now West Coast have made their intentions clear to rebuild via the draft.
They hold the Joker in the pack this year: either taking highly regarded teenager Harley Reid with pick one, or parting ways with it and getting back multiple top 10 picks.
But there’s also real merit in trying to selectively seek out West Australians playing interstate.
There’s stars, some promising footballers and others who are seeking greater opportunity, who could thrive by returning to familiar surroundings and the comforts of home.
Bulldog Tim English is out of contract next year and in the conversation as the game’s best ruckman.
He’s the one which West Coast would obviously have to pay up big time for, but would shore up their ruck stocks for the next eight years.
