1988-89 offseason

After pressuring the VFL to allow them to increase their list size and participate in the draft, West Coast picked up some quality young West Australians as pre-draft selections but otherwise added little value in the drafts proper. Peter Sumich, Don Pyke and Craig Turley were among those picked up before the draft, while David Hynes (who took a couple of years to move West from South Australia after being drafted) was the only major name to come out of either the national or pre-season draft.

On the other side of the ledger, inaugural captain Ross Glendinning brought his VFL career to an end, and the club moved on a number of his teammates including Alex Ishchenko and Mark Zanotti who were both traded to Brisbane.

Player arrivals

Pre-draft selection: Stevan Jackson (South Fremantle), Don Pyke (Claremont), Peter Sumich (South Fremantle), Craig Turley (West Perth), Scott Watters (South Fremantle)

National draft: Darren Bartsch (West Adelaide), Damien Berto (St Mary's, NT), Todd Breman (Subiaco), Jeremy Crough (South Bendigo, Vic), Andrew Geddes (Katunga, Vic), Peter Higgins (Claremont), David Hynes (Port Adelaide Magpies), Peter Melesso (Claremont), Matt Richardson (Warracknabeal, Vic), Scott Williamson (Wangaratta Rovers, Vic)

Pre-season draft: Clinton Browning (East Fremantle), Shane Cable (Perth), Shane Ellis (East Fremantle), Richard Geary (South Fremantle)

Player departures

Retired: Ross Glendinning

Traded: Alex Ishchenko (Brisbane), Mark Zanotti (Brisbane)

Delisted prior to National Draft: Kevin Caton, John Gastev, Wally Matera, Michael O'Connell, Murray Wrensted
Prior to pre-season draft: Darren Bartsch, Damien Berto, Jeremy Crough, Andrew Geddes, Matt Richardson, Scott Williamson
After pre-season draft: Phil Narkle

Exchange period

Alex Ishchenko to Brisbane for pick 2 (Todd Breman)

Mark Zanotti to Brisbane for pick 44 (Scott Williamson)

Drafts

Pre-draft picks:

Stevan Jackson (South Fremantle)

Don Pyke (Claremont)

Peter Sumich (South Fremantle)

Craig Turley (West Perth)

Scott Watters (South Fremantle)

National draft:

2. Todd Breman (Subiaco)

10. Peter Higgins (Claremont)

24. David Hynes (Port Adelaide Magpies)

38. Jeremy Crough (South Bendigo, Vic)

44. Scott Williamson (Wangaratta Rovers, Vic)

52. Darren Bartsch (West Adelaide)

66. Matt Richardson (Warracknabeal, Vic)

80. Damien Berto (St Mary's, NT)

94. Andrew Geddes (Katunga, Vic)

108. Peter Melesso (Claremont)

Pre-season draft:

10. Shane Cable (Perth)

24. Clinton Browning (East Fremantle)

38. Shane Ellis (East Fremantle)

52. Richard Geary (South Fremantle)