WEST Coast defender Mitch Brown says he can see himself staying an Eagle but will wait until the end of the season to decide his football future.
Brown requested a trade to St Kilda during the off-season after managing just eight games in 2012 despite being fully fit for the entire season. Seven times he was listed as an emergency.

Even after having his trade request rebuffed, the former first-round pick says he may still stay at the Eagles.

"I can see myself playing for West Coast in the future," Brown said.

"We have to weigh it up at the end of the year. I do love this club and I can see myself wearing the Eagles jumper."

Having been drafted from Ballarat, Brown wanted to move to back to Victoria for further opportunities.

"For me the next step in football is to play regular football and that's the only reason," he said.

"I really loved this club and I still do. In the trade period, when it didn't happen, I wasn't upset at all.

"I spoke to Woosh (John Worsfold) that night after it ended and said I am committed 110 per cent no matter what.

"I don't find any worth in dwelling on something I can't control any more," he said.

Brown was overlooked for selection in West Coast's round one loss to Fremantle but won a recall after Eric Mackenzie suffered a hamstring injury, only to find himself opposing Lance Franklin.

"It is hard sometimes going to the WAFL and then coming straight in and playing on someone like Franklin.

"The week before we played Hawthorn I was down in Mandurah playing in front of 2000 people. I got told I would be a chance against the Hawks at the first home game in front of 40,000 people," he said.

"But that's what I have to do, and Woosh knows I can do it. So there's no problem. I can find confidence wherever, in the WAFL or AFL."

Despite Franklin kicking five goals from six shots, John Worsfold was pleased with the efforts of his defender.

"I thought Mitch Brown was pretty good. Anytime Hawthorn go forward that many times I would put money on the fact that Franklin is going to have ten shots at goal," Worsfold said.
Brown feels he has done enough to retain his place for the upcoming clash with Carlton but Mackenzie is close to returning to full fitness.

"Yeah Eric is running around and he'll go through training and get a final tick off Friday. So he might be right. For me it's whatever the match committee want," Brown said.

"If it's myself to go back and play in the WAFL that's fine. Anyone's role when they get dropped is to go back to the WAFL and play the best footy they can so I'm not going to be negative about it at all."