Fremantle have developed what has been described as a ‘need for speed’ at AFL level this year, and after an impressive performance on debut for Peel Thunder, rookie draftee Karl Worner has shown there’s plenty of pace waiting in the wings for the Club.
Worner was selected at no.8 in the 2021 Rookie Draft in November but didn’t start his pre-season at Fremantle until late February due to WA’s border closures.
The 19-year-old arrived with the best time trial numbers on Fremantle’s playing list and it showed in his WAFL debut with 31 disposals and two goals in the Thunder’s 17.8 (110) to 11.12 (78) win at Lane Group Stadium in Mandurah on Friday.
Ruckman Lloyd Meek, who had 18 disposals and 28 hitouts in the clash, was thrilled with Worner’s efforts.
“Karl’s resilience has shone through and he is just such a good character,” Meek told The West Australian.
“Obviously with the shut border when he was drafted from Victoria he had to spend a fair amount of time at home and that would have been really hard for him, but I haven’t heard him complain about it once.
“He has come in with a positive mindset, got to work and earned the respect of his teammates, and as you can see the reward comes after that.
“It is no surprise that he can come out and play like that and I am sure we are going to see so much more of him to come.
“He is a superstar with the way he goes about it.”
Also speaking to The West, Peel midfield coach Mark Tilbury said Worner had settled in quickly with his new teammates.
“He is probably the newest to the group both here and at Fremantle, but the way he has been able to slot in during the pre-season games, we can clearly see the potential he has got,” Tilbury said.
“He is a high-end runner, strong over head, generally kicks the ball very well, but we are most pleased for him the way he was able to finish off the game and hit the scoreboard as well.”
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