Fremantle have made their first player trade of the Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period, securing Will Brodie and picks 19, 61 and 69 in a deal with the Gold Coast Suns.
Freo will send a future second round selection and fourth round selection back to the Suns in the deal.
Brodie was drafted by the Suns with pick no.9 in the 2016 AFL Draft in the same year Freo selected Griffin Logue, Brennan Cox and Doig Medallists Sean Darcy and Luke Ryan.
The 23-year-old has played 25 games in five seasons, highlighted by his eight games in 2019 where he averaged just under 22 disposals per game as a 20-year-old.
Head of Player Personnel David Walls said Brodie was a talented player that could split time between the midfield and forward line.
“Will is a former pick nine. He’s a big, 190cm inside mid who has really good speed and is a good contested and clearance player,” Walls said.
“He has an impressive overhead game as well that we really want to explore. We can also see him playing inside, using his speed and his contested game, as well as pushing forward and utilising his overhead abilities to add a forward role to his game as well.
“He grew up as a big Fremantle supporter and he was really keen to come to us. He grew up in Shepparton and around the corner from where Michael Barlow grew up and he idolised Nat Fyfe coming through.”
Indicative draft order: Updated through Trade Period
DRAFT RANKINGS: Cal Twomey's phantom form guide for September
Brodie was recently named the Suns’ VFL Player of the Year, averaging 31.7 disposals and six tackles per game.
Walls said the big-bodied Brodie would fit in well with Fremantle’s younger midfield mix.
“He dominated in the VFL, there was probably just too many similar players at the Gold Coast for him to earn regular AFL selection,” Walls said.
“For us, he has a point of difference. He’s similar to David Mundy and Nat Fyfe’s size, but in the age group of our younger midfielders and is a point of difference to the likes of Andrew Brayshaw, Caleb Serong and our other younger midfielders.”
Walls said Fremantle was also pleased to improve their 2021 NAB AFL Draft hand with pick no.19.
With the draft now split into two nights, Fremantle’s second round pick will be the first selection made on the evening of Thursday 25 November, which can have an added benefit should other Clubs be looking to move up the order.
“It’s exciting to have it. It has a lot of value and is also the first pick of round two of the draft, which starts the second night after a break,” Walls said.
“There’s a lot of time to field offers for that pick so it becomes incredibly valuable. There will be a real rush for that pick ahead of the second day.
“We also have selections 61 and 69, that rounds us out with points attached for those picks.
“We think when the bids come for Nick Daicos from Collingwood and Sam Darcy from the Western Bulldogs as well as other father-son and academy selections, that pick could come to the 40s, which gives us flexibility to use it at a reasonable level or have coverage if we match a bid bid on any NGA players.”
Peter Bell Q&A on Trade Radio
Serong: We call WA home now
Trade period 'just the entree'
