In the wake of the 2011 draft, the Fremantle Dockers’ drafting strategy leading into the 2012 season was questioned in some football circles.
“Dockers defend draft decisions” said one headline, highlighting that Fremantle had picked up entirely interstate talent with their picks of 16, 20, 58 and 71 in the National Draft
They say hindsight is 20/20, but and it’s fair to say that Fremantle general manager of list management Brad Lloyd would feel that his choices have been vindicated.
From the draft in which Greater Western Sydney took 11 of first 30 picks, Fremantle walked away with four players who have established themselves in the side, averaging 19.5 games between them in 2016.
Tommy Sheridan (pick 16, 59 games) Hayden Crozier (pick 20, 50 games), Lachie Neale (pick 58, 92 games) and Cameron Sutcliffe (pick 71, 87 games) have all notched up their 50 game milestones within four seasons, while Neale has put his hand up as the bargain pick of 2011, winning this season’s Doig Medal with a 737-disposal season.
On their introduction to the media in Perth, the baby-faced group hosed down any questions about their commitment about moving to Western Australia. Sutcliffe described himself as a “one club player” while Neale made it clear he was already used to living away from home.
“You just want to get over here once you’ve found out,” said Neale of his feelings post draft
“I was a boarder for three years so I lived away from home for three years then so I’ve had that experience.”
Neale, who recently signed on until the end of the 2019 season, said he modeled his game on another South Australian product.
"I’m a hardworking small inside midfielder who likes to go forward and try and make opportunities as a small forward as well,” Neale said.
“I look up to Bernie Vince. Dad coached him when he was 16 or 17, I watched how he runs, where he runs and how he finds the footy since I’ve started taking my footy seriously."
The group also highlighted the welcoming nature of the existing playing group.
Sheridan, who was playing golf to take his mind off the draft, said it was “overwhelming” when former Freo captain Matthew Pavlich called him to welcome him to the club.
Sutcliffe said it was “absolutely amazing” to have the chance to live with Pavlich at a beachside apartment in Scarborough, while Crozier scored his “idol” Nat Fyfe as his housemate, credited his abilities in the kitchen as a “good cook”.
In an era where the “go-home factor” weighs heavily on players and clubs during the trade and draft period, Fremantle has seemed impervious.
In 2016, the ensured Neale would remain in WA for a further three years, while seeing four WA-based players return to their home state in Cam McCarthy, Bradley Hill, Joel Hamling and Shane Kersten.
With a world class elite training and administration facility coming online in 2017 at Cockburn Central West, Fremantle is establishing itself as a destination club.
It means that whether the club moves on local or interstate at next Friday’s NAB AFL Draft, it can move with confidence and maximise the benefit from their strongest pick allocation since 2009
At the draft, Fremantle’s opening round pick is at No. 7, with two in the second round at 35 and 40 and a fourth round pick of 71.
