WEST Coast development coach Jaymie Graham has been appointed head coach of the Eagles' WAFL affiliate club East Perth in a move that further strengthens the relationship between the two clubs.

Experienced WAFL coach Brian Dawson coached East Perth over the previous three seasons but elected not to continue in the role in 2016. The Royals have played finals in all three seasons, including two Grand Finals.

Graham has spent the past two seasons as a development coach at the Eagles having worked previously at St Kilda for two seasons.

He has been heavily involved in the alignment with East Perth over the past two years and worked with the club on match days.

Graham said he was keen to continue fostering the winning culture at East Perth and stressed that despite remaining in a development role with the Eagles, the WAFL was his priority.

"I'll still be in a development role full-time at West Coast but it will change slightly as my focus will be on coaching East Perth," Graham told AFL.com.au.

"My primary role is to coach East Perth and develop the East Perth players. We are there to develop East Perth as a club and the partnership works both ways."

The Eagles' alignment model with East Perth has been in place since the start of 2014, following a partial alignment in 2013.

All Eagles listed players play with the club and the Eagles' development team are involved as coaches at East Perth to help further develop younger players.

The alignment has been beneficial for the Eagles. It allowed them to develop Jeremy McGovern as a key defender in the WAFL at the start of 2014 having previously played as a ruckman/forward for the majority of his time at Claremont prior to moving under the alignment.

McGovern made the All Australian 40-man squad as a key defender this season and was pivotal to the Eagles’ success throughout the year.

"Jeremy McGovern's example last year is a great example and we hope to see more of those," Graham said.

The Eagles are keen to continue to develop players in multiple roles and Graham would like to do the same with the East Perth group.

He said he would look to develop ruckmen following the Eagles' decision to trade Callum Sinclair to the Sydney Swans.

"Fraser McInnes at East Perth got the opportunity to try his hand in the ruck and then he got the opportunities at AFL level due to his flexibility," Graham said.

"With Callum gone it could potentially open up an opportunity for him so he's just got to have a big pre-season and hopefully he gives himself every opportunity."