AFL Trades: West Coast land Richmond backman Tylar Young for second-round pick

West Coast has landed Richmond defender Tylar Young on a three-year deal, with a trade to be finalised on Monday.

As revealed by The West Australian, the Eagles send the second-round pick in this year’s draft they got from Hawthorn as part of the deal to lose premiership backman Tom Barrass (currently No.38) last year to land the Tigers’ backman.

Young requested a trade to the Eagles after 35 games in three seasons at the Tigers as a mature-age key defender out of Frankston.

The 27-year-old was recruited in the 2022 rookie draft and played 19 games in his first season as a 196cm backman.

“We’re really pleased to bring Tylar into our football club and believe he can make an immediate impact for us next season,” Eagles list boss Matt Clarke said.

“Tylar is a strong-bodied and mature key defender who our coach Andrew McQualter knows well from their time together.

“With his size and stature, he is capable of competing against the AFL’s power forwards and he will complement our existing defensive stocks.”

Young sustained a ruptured ACL in 2024 while playing in the VFL but returned to play seven games this year for the Tigers.

He will add depth to the Eagles’ key defensive stocks that have taken a serious his in the past 18 months, with former vice-captain Barrass joining the Hawks last year, while five-time All-Australian Jeremy McGovern was forced to retire mid-season because of concussion issues.

Young will join 200cm backman Harry Edwards as well as Rhett Bazzo and pre-season signing Sandy Brock as key backman at the Eagles in 2026 under coach Andrew McQualter who will be in his season season at the club.

It continues an active trade period for the Eagles who recruited dual Brisbane premiership defender Brandon Starcevich in a complicated three-club trade that also involved cross-town rivals Fremantle.

Co-captain Oscar Allen joined Brisbane as a restricted free agent, with West Coast landing pick No.2 as compensation for losing the 26-year-old forward.

First-round draftee Campbell Chesser got his wish to be traded to Carlton last week, with the Eagles getting a second round pick (currently No.41) in return.

West Coast will now hold picks 1, 2, 13, 34, 41, 53 and 58 in this year’s draft but are again trying to find a way to get higher up to increase their hand.