WITH season proper and trade period done and dusted, AFL fans and staff alike now turn their attention towards the draft (November 20-21). The chaos has momentarily settled on player and pick swaps, and budding prospects have completed their combines, leaving a nervous wait until they learn their fate.

In the next of our club-by-club draft previews, we take a look at Fremantle’s hand and offer insight into how the Dockers may utilise the picks at their possession. After falling out of finals and losing some spark at the trade table, the West Australian club has decent stock to work with.

LADDER FINISH: 14th (10-13, 96.7%)
2023 PICKS: 34, 46, 60, 64, 85
FUTURE PICKS: FRE R1, COL R1, PTA R1, STK R2, FRE R3, STK R4
ACADEMY/FATHER-SON NOMINEES: Mitch Edwards (NGA)

FIRST PICK:
Pick 34

Boasting three future first round picks and a clear interest in West Coast NGA prospect Lance Collard, Fremantle’s first selection could end up a lot different than it currently stands. The Dockers are better poised than most to move up the board, and would likely need a pick in the 15-20 range to nab Collard.

Having lost Lachie Schultz and lively wingman Liam Henry during trade period, the Dockers are in need of some energy and forward firepower. Collard offers both and has a deep bag of tricks which has him in high demand towards the back-end of the first round.

Should Fremantle be unable to manufacture a move into said range, pick 34 could yet yield similar traits. South Australian goalsneak Jack Delean has been linked, with other small forwards like Phoenix Gothard, East Fremantle jet Koen Sanchez, and Tasmanian Jack Callinan also set to fall around the mark.

Local key defender Zane Zakostelsky is another prospect, albeit completely different in type, who the Dockers may court. His athleticism has propelled him up draft boards of late, leaving his best until last with a best afield performance in the WAFL Colts Grand Final.

REMAINING CROP:

Fremantle has a few areas to cover across its list, and should a small forward be ticked off first, perhaps the attacking focus will carry on. There are a couple of marking targets in Luke Lloyd and Logan Morris that could take a load off Jye Amiss in the long-term, likely available as second rounders.

Pick 46 may even be a bit far back to nab the Victorian pair, and the same can be said for midfielder Clay Hall. Perhaps, then, his Peel Thunder teammate Reece Torrent comes into consideration as a balanced type who can also roll forward from midfield.

Outside run and permanent long-term wingers remain pressing needs, so another local in Aiden O’Driscoll would be a handy addition. The same can be said for 190cm GWV Rebels wingman Joel Freijah, whose potential arguably outweighs where he is projected to be picked.

With no Next Generation Academy or father-son options to consider this year, the Dockers can get creative late in the crop. Mitch Edwards falls into the former category but is likely to be snapped up within the first 40 picks, and Fremantle is well stocked in the ruck department as it is.

KEY QUESTIONS:

– Can Fremantle move up the board to nab their rivals’ highly touted NGA product?
– If not, what other small forward options will the Dockers lean towards?
– With local talent looking thin next year, will Fremantle make that a focus in 2023?