Circumstances meant teenager Taylem Wason was forced to watch from the sidelines.

He was omitted from the senior outfit to make way for Dion Johnstone – a creative small forward who was drafted to AFL club Melbourne two months later.

“I was ineligible for reserves and under 18s,” Wason said.

“I couldn’t play reserves because I played TAC Cup and I didn’t play enough games in the under 18s during the season. It was pretty hard at the time but it made me stronger as a person.”

Wason, 19, is now carving a niche for himself in the Eagles’ back line as a rebounding defender.

The former Greater Western Victoria Rebels forward is enjoying the new role, which allows him to use his best attributes.

He’s been in the Eagles’ best in their past two matches after earning a senior recall.

“If there is a quicker-type, they (the Eagles coaches) ask me to play on him,” Wason said. “I like to use my run off the half-back line and get it long.”

Wason, who is doing as dental assistant traineeship at South West Healthcare, arrived at the Eagles in 2016 from Warrnambool and District league club Russells Creek.

“I wanted to challenge myself a bit more and improve my footy,” he said of his decision to join the Hampden league.