He might hail from the same state as his favourite club, but it would take at least three days for Wyndham prospect Jason Carter to navigate the 3,200km drive home from Perth. 

That would be, if he had his drivers licence.

Instead of thinking about his hometown, located at the very top of WA, the 16-year-old Carter is spending two weeks with the Fremantle Dockers after wrapping up his year 11 studies as a boarder at Aquinas College.

Carter is with the club as a part of their Next Generation Academy in the Kimberley, and staying with development coach Roger Hayden.

If Carter advances in his development and continues to impress over the next two years, he will be available to be selected by Fremantle as a priority signing at the 2018 National Draft.

“It’s a big experience, especially as I was born and bred a Freo fan,” Carter said.

“I already look up to most of the players, and to be able to train with them now is a big deal.”

While it’s unfair to expect Carter’s slender frame to match it with the big boys at training, he’s certainly showed his worth among those in his age group, earning All-Australian selection at the 2016 U16 National Championships.

But Carter certainly hasn’t been overawed while on the track with Freo, and has been readily welcomed into the group.

“I’ve been speaking to Tabs (Matt Taberner) quite a bit,” Carter said.

“He’s been looking out for me a lot of the time, coming up to me to see how I’m going.

“He just said to me to stay focused and to do what I do best.

“Preparation, organisation…that’s the key thing. At an AFL club, if you’re organised you’re going to do the right thing, and if you’re prepared to do the right thing you’ll be sweet.”

While Carter is still a year away from gaining his driver's licence, he’s not at all bothered about sharing the ride to and from training with coach Hayden.

“I’m on my learners (permit) at the moment, so next year I’ll be on my P’s and I’ll be able to drive around Perth,” Carter said.

“But staying with Roger has been a good experience. You get some insight into what the AFL is like, and he spoke to me about all of the steps you have to take to play AFL 

“It’s good to be out there training with the boys too, in school you’re just sitting down and doing your work, that’s about it!”