West Coast Eagles begin talks on new deal for free agent Brad Sheppard

Work on a new West Coast contract for Brad Sheppard are set to begin as soon as today.

Sheppard is eligible for free agency at the end of the season, one of several high-profile Eagles set to come onto the open market this year.

Josh Kennedy and skipper Shannon Hurn were taken off the table earlier this week, signing new one-year contract extensions, but Sheppard, star ruckman Nic Naitanui and premiership players Chris Masten, Will Schofield, Mark Hutchings and Lewis Jetta are just some of the players still unsigned beyond this year.

WIN the ultimate WA footy fan experience! Register to play The Game tipping and fantasy before March 12 for your chance to win TWO PREMIUM RESERVED SEATS, including hospitality, at every AFL home and away game in Perth this season, with thanks to Thirsty Camel.

Speaking to 6PR’s Sportsday WA on Thursday night, Sheppard’s manager Colin Young said the parties would be meeting today to begin the process.

“I’ll be meeting actually with (Eagles football manager) Craig Vozzo (on Friday) to commence negotiations, to see where they’re sitting with their salary cap and where they see Brad long term.

“Hopefully tomorrow we’ll sit down and start working on it.”

Sheppard agonisingly missed out on last year’s premiership after badly damaging his hamstring in the qualifying final against Collingwood.

His last contract was a three-year deal signed in 2016.