The Eagles look set to sign the Adamson, who recently quit the Padres.
AFL club West Coast Eagles look set to rookie-list former baseballer Corey Adamson for the 2015 AFL season.
Adamson, the son of legendary Australian slugger Tony Adamson, has been playing baseball in the United States for six years after signing with the San Diego Padres as a 16-year-old.
The 22-year-old was a former star junior footballer and was named in the Under-15 All-Australian schoolboy side.
Adamson also played the the Western Australian schoolboys team alongside the likes of Jack Darling, Brandon Matera and David Swallow.
The Eagles announced on Monday that it had submitted the required paperwork to the AFL to rookie-list Adamson under a rule that allows clubs to sign players who have not played Australian rules football in the past three years.
The 188cm utility has not played the game in six years, but after undergoing testing by Eagles recruiting manager Brad Smith in the US, the club decided to recruit him.
West Coast recruiting manager Rohan O’Brien told the club’s website that the Eagles had kept tabs on Adamson as a younger player and were impressed.
“Knowing Corey’s background, where he was a very talented junior before taking up an opportunity to sign a contract with the San Diego Padres, we felt this was an opportunity for us to take on a project at no cost under AFL drafting rules,” he said.
“We know Corey, we know his ability and while he hasn’t played football for six years we believe he can re-acclimatise and make the adjustment.
“While he has not been in the football system, he has been entrenched in a professional environment and has shown his commitment to play at a high level which, coupled with his achievements as a junior footballer, made the decision easy for us.”
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