Fremantle had one eye on the present in the 2022 NAB AFL Draft, going for players who will make an instant impact at the Club, according to Head of Player Personnel David Walls.

Walls expects mature age draftees Tom Emmett (pick 41) and Corey Wagner (pick 57) to push for selection in 2022, while key defender Hugh Davies (pick 33) could also put his hand up if the opportunity presented.

Ruckman Max Knobel (pick 42) is likely to be more of a long-term project, with Freo adding depth behind star rucks Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson.

“We feel like we’ve addressed our needs,” Walls said.

“We’re really happy to get Hugh Davies in, he’s a key back who we think is going to develop really well under Alex (Pearce) and Brennan Cox. We’re rapt to get him in.

“Max is a really developing type, but he improved so much this year and he’s a monster at 206cm and we think he’s still growing.

“He’s starting to fill out really nicely and he’s got real scope and potential to become a really good AFL ruck.

“Our mature agers, taking the long road has given them more of an appreciation for the game.

“Tom’s a qualified accountant, I think he does the tax returns for most of the guys at Sturt.

“Corey’s been in and out of the system and he’s now engaged. It looked like he was going to be captain at Port Melbourne next year.

“Both have said from day one they’re not taking a back seat, not waiting, they’re just coming in and are going to make the most of every day.”

With the departures of Griffin Logue, Darcy Tucker, Blake Acres, Lloyd Meek and Rory Lobb in the trade period, Walls said it was important to bring in mature players to bolster the age of the list.

Wagner already has 19 games of AFL experience in his two years at North Melbourne and one year at Melbourne.

“The list management need of a key back and a ruck was addressed and then we’ve got two guys who have shown incredible resilience,” Walls said.

“Tom’s had cancer, and we liked him back when he was 18 and he showed a bit but then he sliced his achilles.

“This year he was outstanding. He was hitting the scoreboard regularly, super physical, just a bull who loves tackling, chasing, can take a good contested mark.

“Wagner’s second half of the year was outstanding. Phil Merriman worked with him at Melbourne, so he’ll come in and be one of our top line runners straight away.

“He’s one that we expect to be able to play next year and be able to play pretty quickly.”

Stoked and shocked - Davies now a Docker
Pick no.33 - Hugh Davies
Pick no.41 - Tom Emmett
Pick no.42 - Max Knobel
Pick no.57 - Corey Wagner