Twelve months ago, Minairo ‘Michael’ Frederick watched his twin brother Martin get drafted by Port Adelaide in the 2018 Rookie Draft.

On that night, his mother assured him that a year later it would be Michael’s name they hear called out.

On Thursday, Frederick’s moment arrived, selected by Fremantle with pick 61 in the 2019 National Draft. 

“Mum is absolutely stoked about it,” Frederick, who prefers to go by the first name of Michael, said. 

“She always said after ‘Marty’ got picked up as a Category B (with Port), ‘don’t worry Michael your turn will be next year’.

“She said that we will be sitting here next year watching it. 

“Mum spoke her word into reality and I just worked really hard.”

Hailing from Woodville West Torrens, the SANFL club where Fremantle legend Matthew Pavlich and teammate Cam Sutcliffe hailed from, Frederick was filled with emotion upon realising his AFL dream had arrived.

“It’s a bit of mixed emotions at the moment, I was shaking when I got the announcement,” Frederick said. 

“I’m pretty chilled out at right now, but it hasn’t sunk in yet.

“I’m just stoked and over the moon.”

But like most other hopeful draftees, Frederick was not sitting on the edge of his seat watching the draft. 

Instead he was in the shower, hoping his nerves would subside.

“It was a bit nerve-racking; I was watching it a bit earlier, but I knew the teams that I had spoken to had a few picks coming up,” Frederick said.

“I started getting a bit nervous and tried to take my mind off it, so I went and had a shower.

“When I got out… I got a phone call, so that’s when I knew, it’s unreal.

“I told mum that I’m heading to Western Australia and just embraced with her and my brother.

Frederick was named best afield for Woodville West Torrens in the 2019 SANFL Grand Final, with recruiters touting him as a winger with an impressive running capacity.

For Freo fans who don’t yet know the 19-year-old, Frederick said he makes sure to utilise his running abilities.

“I’m a very efficient kick and I don’t mind taking the game on every now and then,” Frederick said. 

“(I focus on) my explosiveness out of the pack and I’m a hard-running player as well that can occasionally go forward and kick a few goals.”

Frederick said he is ‘not daunted’ about heading west to start his new life as a Freo Docker.

“I’ve never been to Western Australia before, but I’ve heard a lot about it,” Frederick said.

“I’m not really daunted about moving interstate or anything and I can’t wait to get there and start.”