Time will tell but 196cm Cale Hooker could end up proving a steal for the Bombers who picked up the Perth local in Saturday's draft with pick 54 (Essendon's last pick).

Hooker recorded times of 2.88 seconds for the 20m sprint and 7.94 seconds for the agility run during testing - times which place him in the upper echelon of the 64 draftees from Saturday.

List Manager Adrian Dodoro said he thought Hooker was worth the punt given his exceptional speed and agility for someone so tall.

""For a key position player he has some very good attributes including being a strong mark,"" Dodoro said.

Hooker - a centre half back who has also played centre half forward and even on the wing - said it was extremely exciting when his name was read out.

""I was at home in Perth watching on the computer with my parents - I didn't expect to get drafted but I was hoping to get picked up. I am a more excited than nervous but still a little bit nervous,"" Hooker said.

""I was a bit of a Fremantle supporter but I think Essendon is a fantastic club and it looks like it will be an exciting time to be there.

""It will be great to learn off key position guys like Matthew Lloyd and Scott Lucas but I am sure I can learn something off all the guys.

""I have heard a lot of good things about Matthew Knights in the media and around the traps so I am looking forward to playing for him too.""

Western Australian recruits were the order of the day for the Bombers and filled three of Essendon's four draft selections.

Hooker is one of 15 players drafted into the AFL from Western Australia and one of five drafted from East Fremantle (Chris Masten, Phys Palmer, Harry Taylor and Bradd Dalziell were the other four).

Hooker, who turned 19 on the 13th October 2007, will arrive in Melbourne tomorrow for the first time.

A keen cricketer and former promising opening batsmen he is looking forward to building up his body and getting ""super fit"" for 2008.

""Last year in pre-season I had glandular fever and lost 12kg. I pretty much had no fitness and I was in bed sleeping all the time."" he said.

""It took me a good two months to get over it so I missed the pre-season and started the year in East Fremantle's WAFL colts side but finished in the reserves.""

Hooker played centre-half back in the WAFL reserves grand final, which they narrowly lost, but had a good game collecting over 20 pocessions and keeping his opponent quiet.

""I feel like I am back to full strength now and hopefully I can keep improving,"" he said.

While it is always hard for players to make the move to a new State, Hooker has played against David Myers (who he describes as a ""smart player who uses the ball well"") in colts and also knows Paddy Ryder from his East Fremantle days. 

Hooker's 2007 East Fremantle WAFL reserves coach, David Johnson, says he is very confident the new Bomber recruit will play AFL.

“He’s very raw and has been hampered through injury and illness but there is no doubt he would have played league footy for us if he had gone through the pre-season,” Johnson said.

“His grand final performance was outstanding for a bloke his age.

“He is an exciting key position player. He has terrific hands and is a very good contested mark. He backs himself frequently and is prepared to run and carry the ball. His agility for someone 196cm tall is exceptional.”