Young defender Josh Draper has signed a two-year contract extension to remain at Fremantle until the end of season 2027. 

A product of Fremantle’s Next Generation Academy, Draper had already been signed as a Category B rookie until the end of 2025 and will be elevated to the senior list in 2026. 

The 20-year-old’s new deal is further reward for an outstanding season 2024 that has seen him play 18 games in defence and earn an AFL Rising Star nomination in round 20.

“I’m so glad to just stay at the Club. I’ve made good connections with the boys and I’m just excited moving forward,” Draper said. 

“It’s just gone so quick (this season), I came into the year just hoping for one game and now I think I’ve played the 18.” 

Making his AFL debut in round 2 following serious injuries to key defenders Brennan Cox and Oscar McDonald in the season-opener, Draper has also stepped up in captain Alex Pearce’s absence and excelled on some of the biggest names in the game. 

“It’s been a great challenge,” Draper said. 

“I’ve got great leaders down there to help me. 

“We are such a close group (defensive unit) and I think for all of my first year me and Hughey (Hugh Davies) have just been watching clips of Alex Pearce, Brennan Cox, Luke Ryan, and then on the field they all just help me with my body work, my confidence and telling me just to attack the ball and be myself.” 

Drafted as a Category B rookie in the 2022 National Draft, the former Rockingham junior is the fifth NGA product to play for Fremantle after joining the program as a 13-year-old in 2017. 

Draper is of Ethiopian heritage with his mother Aynalem born in Addis Ababa. 

“It first started with Tendai Mzungu and then transferred to Roger Hayden...I’m just so grateful that I got the opportunity to be in the NGA program and to obviously get drafted by Freo,” Draper said. 

Draper was also a WA Metro Basketball representative, winning gold at the national championships in 2021 before adding a WAFL colts premiership with Peel Thunder in 2022. 

Head of Player Personnel David Walls says Fremantle is delighted to sign a player who has shown a huge amount of growth since arriving at the Club. 

“The opportunity and experience he’s had this season has been huge for his development,” said Walls. 

“He’s been thrown in the deep end a little with injuries to our key defenders, but he’s grabbed it with both hands. 

“With his athleticism, willingness to learn and hard work, we see him as a long-term defender with the ability to adapt to different roles in the future.” 

Walls paid tribute to the work of Fremantle Development Coach Tendai Mzungu for Draper’s early development and helping to sway him towards football over basketball. 

“Tendai deserves a huge amount of credit and it shows the value of our Next Generation Academy,” said Walls. 

“When Josh was making his decision about which sport to choose, the benefit of being in the football system and having that NGA pathway definitely played a big part.”