FREMANTLE draftees Stephen Hill and Nic Suban have raced into contention for the side’s round one clash with the Western Bulldogs after eye-catching pre-seasons, coach Mark Harvey said on Wednesday.
 
The 18-year-old pair has impressed Harvey since being drafted last November and the coach said both would be monitored during this Saturday’s NAB Challenge clash with Carlton with a view to round one.
 
Harvey said Hill, the No.3 pick at last year’s NAB AFL Draft was in serious contention for round one pending his performance this week.
 
“Stephen has done everything that we have asked him to do (so) it’ll be interesting to see what happens at selection and see how coaches look upon Stephen,” Harvey said.

“He’s got some good attributes at this stage.
 
“It’s not totally dependent on what they (Hill and Suban) do on Saturday it is what we’ve got in mind for round one and certain players will fit the criteria to play against the Bulldogs.”
 
Suban, the No.24 pick at last year's draft, emerged as a genuine round one option during last Saturday's NAB Challenge clash with West Coast.
 
The strong-bodied midfielder impressed rotating between the wing and centre square to be one of Fremantle's best players on the night.
 
"I was impressed with what he did last week," Harvey said.
 
"Nick's an interesting guy. He's just a young fella that you would think [has] been around for years – and that's a good attribute to have for a young player.
 
"He uses the ball well. Nick's getting an opportunity this week and we'll monitor his performance."

With so much attention on Fremantle's draft picks following the success of 2008 NAB AFL Rising Star Rhys Palmer, Harvey warned against judging and comparing first year players during the pre-season competition.
 
"A lot of these kids at the moment haven't done full pre-seasons because of the timing of the draft," he said.
 
"So I'd be waiting to see what they do in season before you start comparing or judging them against each other.
 
"I don't think that's right that we [compare draftees]. You move on from your selections and you're happy with the player that you got. You work as hard and as quick as you can with that particular player and mould him into what you need. And that's what we're doing with Stephen."

Dream Team watch – Stephen Hill is rated a $142,600 defender/midfielder in Toyota AFL Dream Team 2009.