Federal Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop says she will bring her legal nous to AFL club West Coast after her shock appointment to the Eagles board.

With tough sanctions still hanging over the club should it stray away from their reformed ways, West Coast chairman Mark Barnaba personally approached Bishop in the hope of securing her as a director.

Bishop, who held cabinet posts in John Howard's government after completing a Bachelor of Law at the University of Adelaide, said she would bring her legal expertise to the club.

"My law firm did their legal work for the West Coast Eagles way back in 1987," Bishop told WAtoday.

"So I've had an involvement with the club from a legal perspective from the outset.

"I've seen the club evolve over time and obviously I'll bring whatever legal skills are required.

"The club's been through a culture change, it has met head-on some very difficult issues and now is the perfect time to get involved and support the club at this level."

A club spokesman said Bishop would attend most, if not all, board meetings, which are held on a monthly basis.

Barnaba said he was thrilled with the appointment of Bishop, who will become the club's first ever female board member.

"This appointment again demonstrates that our club is in good shape and that the future prospects are very exciting," Barnaba said.

West Australian Football Commission Chairman Neale Fong said Bishop's appointment reflected well on the status of WA football.

"We are confident that an appointment of this nature will assist the West Coast Eagles to remain a force in the AFL," Fong said.

Following a string of off-field incidents in recent years, most notably recovering drug addict Ben Cousins' fall from grace, the Eagles face the prospect of being stripped of draft picks or premiership points should they encounter any further off-field dramas.

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