Oscar Allen feared his hopes of a West Coast career had been dashed when he was overlooked by the Eagles with their first pick in the national draft.
But the Eagles couldn't believe their luck when the athletic forward was still available in the second round and swooped with pick No.21.
"It was so up in the air, and just before the draft everyone was saying that tall forwards always tend to slide down the order a bit," Allen said.
"When they didn't pick me, I was almost resigned to the fact that I wouldn't make it around to the Eagles' second pick, which I was fine with, but I'm stoked."