Fremantle head into the 2016 National Draft on 25 November in Sydney with their best selection of picks since 2009, when the club took Anthony Morabito with pick four and Nat Fyfe with pick 20.
Freo has picks number seven, 35, 40 and 71 in what is touted as a strong pool deep with talent. Through pick 7, Fremantle will have their first top 10 selection since 2009, while taking three picks from the opening two rounds for the first time since 2012.
Thanks to some strong performances on the field, Fremantle’s had slim pickings going into recent drafts, however this hasn’t resulted in players of a lesser calibre coming to the club.
The proof will be in the pudding, but all but two of Freo’s 12 National Draft selections since 2013 remain on the senior list. Brady Grey (2013, pick 58) and Josh Deluca (2014, pick 68) were delisted at the end of the 2016 season, but are remaining at the club to train with the possibility of being re-listed during this month’s draft period.
This year Fremantle earned two NAB Rising Star nominations from the 2014 class through pick 13 Lachie Weller and pick 34 Connor Blakely, while pick 54 Ed Langdon has been a revelation -- playing 13 games in 2016 and reeling in 39 touches for Peel Thunder in their maiden WAFL Grand Final win.
Coming off a Grand Final appearance, Fremantle went tall in 2013, taking three players who could potentially fill key positions in the years to come through Michael Apeness (pick 17), Alex Pearce (pick 37) and Matt Taberner (pick 70 - rookie promotion).
While only time will tell in judging Fremantle’s 2015 class, they have already uncovered a bargain with pick 61 Shane Yarran. The pacey small forward debuted late in 2016, kicking at least one goal in all six of his appearances.
19-year-old Harley Balic is yet to make an appearance for Fremantle after being taken with pick 38. The highly touted defensive prospect was seen as a bargain recruit, with Balic carrying a wrist injury at the time. After a successful recovery from surgery, Balic made his first appearances for Peel in the WAFL, playing five games including all four of their finals.
Fremantle saw plenty of game time from 2015 recruits Darcy Tucker (pick 27) and Sam Collins (pick 55). Both impressed in Freo colours, playing 12 games each in 2016 and earning valuable AFL experience.
FREMANTLE’S RECENT DRAFT HISTORY
2013
Round 1, Pick 17: Michael Apeness
Round 2, Pick 37: Alex Pearce
Round 4, Pick 58: Brady Grey
Round 4, pick 70 (rookie promotion): Matt Taberner
2014
Round 1, Pick 13: Lachie Weller
Round 2, Pick 34: Connor Blakely
Round 3, Pick 54: Ed Langdon
Round 4, Pick 68: Josh Deluca
2015
Round 2, Pick 27: Darcy Tucker
Round 2, Pick 38: Harley Balic
Round 4, Pick 55: Sam Collins
Round 4, Pick 61: Shane Yarran
2016
Round 1, Pick 7
Round 2, Pick 35
Round 2, Pick 40
Round 5, Pick 71
