Local boys set to lead the way as Collie Eagles prepare for life after former Dockers forward Joel Houghton

New Collie Eagles coach Kade East says the club is likely to throw its support behind local talent to fill the void left by departing forward Joel Houghton, but has not ruled out signing a new key position player. Houghton, a former Fremantle Dockers-listed player, spent four years in two separate stints at the Eagles but made the switch to South West Football League rivals Eaton Boomers in a surprise off-season move. The forward kicked 129 goals in his four seasons at the club, including a league-high 65 goals in the 2017 season, his first at the club. An injury-plagued season meant he kicked just 11 goals this year and East is confident the club already boasts enough talent to find goals elsewhere. “We will look at boys from within and try to maximise the strength we already have,” he said. “We know we have a really talented local list, one of the most talented locally.” One of those players likely to take on an increased role is former East Fremantle league player Cameron Davidson, who returned to the club during the early part of the season and finished with a club-high 22 goals. The athletic forward provides a good lead-up option and can compete at ground level, while teammate Luke Abbott appears the most likely stay-at-home option to provide some size in aerial contests. But East said the club would not rule out chasing a key position player to replace Houghton at either end of the ground. “We are probably still on the hunt for a key defender or a key forward,” he said. “Someone we can put a few pieces around. “There are wheels in motion and we are currently working through that.” The 29-year-old Houghton was taken by the Dockers with pick 36 in the 2009 national draft — the same year they took Harvey product Anthony Morabito and two-time Brownlow Medal winner and current captain Nathan Fyfe.