AFL
The meaning behind ‘For the Anchor’

Fremantle recruit Isaiah Dudley has recalled the moment he found out the Club was selecting him as a Supplementary Selection Pick last Friday.

Dudley, who was handed number 43 after being signed, said Club great and former holder of the number, Roger Hayden, told him to make his own story with the number.

“It was pretty special getting number 43 handed to me,” Dudley said.

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“Roger was in the room, and he just gave me a big hug and said, ‘Go well with it and make your own path with the number.’

“I’m still over the moon a bit. It’s kind of sunk in, but I’m just glad that I’m here.”

On top of receiving the number, finding out the Club was signing him at the Indigenous All Stars and Fremantle joint lunch in front of family and friends was a moment Dudley said he’d ‘cherish for a long time’.

“It was a pretty unreal moment, a pretty special moment that I had the Indigenous and Freo boys there… it was a pretty special moment,” Dudley said.

“That (having his Mother and Grandma present) put an extra cherry on top, having them both there.

“I hadn’t seen them since the new year, so I was glad that they were there to share that moment.”

Now a week into his time as an official Fremantle player, Dudley said his connection with the group was already strong and would continue to grow throughout the year.

“The boys embracing me makes it a lot easier transitioning to an AFL environment from the SANFL,” Dudley said.

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“The obvious ones are the Indigenous boys like Sonny (Michael Walters), Shai (Bolton), Quinton (Narkle), but also Michael (Frederick). Obviously, I know him from South Australia, so that was a good connection.

“Everyone else I’ve built a good connection with, and that will keep continuing to build.

“Everyone’s just helping me find my way, find my feet, so it’s been good.”

Fremantle will play an intraclub match on Sunday 23 February, which will be another chance for Fremantle fans to see Dudley in action before the 2025 season.

“That will be my second hitout, and I know what to do now, so I can’t wait for it,” Dudley said.

“(I see my strengths as) my goal sense and my X-factor, but other than that, just trying to bring forward half turnovers.”

Fremantle will conclude its pre-season on Sunday 2 March, with its only AAMI Community Series match against Melbourne at Rushton Park in Mandurah.