Emerging key forward Josh Treacy has signed a deal that will see him in Fremantle colours as a rookie-listed player until at least the end of the 2023 season.
Drafted at no.7 in the 2020 NAB AFL Rookie Draft, the 18-year-old impressed throughout pre-season to earn a debut in round four, going on to play seven games so far this season.
After playing mostly as the third tall earlier this season alongside Matt Taberner and Rory Lobb, Treacy took his game to another level following Taberner’s ankle injury, kicking five goals in the past two games.
In Freo’s most recent win against Gold Coast, he had 15 disposals and seven marks to go with his 2.3.
“The next two years, it’s going to be really exciting and it’s good to have just a bit of security,” Treacy said.
“Coming in you feel the pressure that you need to perform and need to be playing. To have (a new contract) locked away half way through the season, it’s really good and I can settle now and still get to work and keep working hard.”
Despite having a big scoreboard impact in recent weeks, Treacy said he wanted to be about more than just kicking goals.
“I want to be a very team orientated player. I like to bring others into the game and work others in. If I’m not impacting on the scoreboard or possessions wise, that doesn’t overly bother me as long as I can contribute in other ways,” Treacy said.
“It’s bringing the ball to ground or laying a tackle, things like that. Getting in the way of Lobby’s opponent or Tabs' opponent so they can get a good look. That’s something that I pride myself on.”
Treacy said he was most excited about what Fremantle could achieve in the coming seasons.
“Even if things might not click right now, I think definitely over the next few seasons, something will start to happen.”
Fremantle’s head of player personnel David Walls said Treacy has exceeded expectations for a young player.
“Josh is a really humble down to earth country guy that works hard and just wants to get better every session,” Walls said.
“In the past three or four weeks, he’s really got used to the tempo and we’re starting to see what he can do with his contested marking, getting to contest and getting it to ground.
“He has strong hands on the lead and is a beautiful set shot for goal and we’ve seen that he can kick them from outside 50.”
Walls said he could see plenty of upside for the young Freo Docker.
“Key forward is a tough position for any young player to come into. For Josh to do what he’s done so far in that role as an 18-year-old is outstanding,” Walls said.
“It’s really exciting for the club long term where he can develop. He’s got Taberner and Lobb around him who take a lot of heat and he can contribute a lot as that third tall.
“But as we’ve seen with Tabs going down for the past couple weeks, it’s created some opportunity, a bit more ball came Josh’s way and he really stood up.”
