Anything and Everything Fremantle
Archive for November, 2011
Mates Forster, Neale go to Freo
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Norwood’s Alex Forster spent this afternoon “hanging out” with close mate Lachie Neale as he tried to take his mind off tonight’s AFL national draft.
Several hours later the 18-year-olds – who grew up together in the state’s south east and were junior teammates at Kybybolite Football Club – learnt they would be continuing their footy journey alongside one another after both were selected by Fremantle.
Forster, a rebounding half-back who played six League games for the Redlegs this year, was taken by the Dockers with pick No. 29, while ball-winning Glenelg midfielder Neale went at pick No. 58.
Dream come true
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New Fremantle draftee Hayden Crozier already had a bit of a connection with his new club: he has tried to model his game around current Freo star Nat Fyfe.
“I just love the way he goes about his football,” Crozier said.
Another thing Crozier has in common with Fyfe is that the pair were both selected by Fremantle as the 20th picks in their respective drafts.
Crozier, who turns 18 next month, was a standout at the NAB AFL Draft Combine, recording the second best result in the running vertical jump test at 91cm.
The 185cm Victorian midfielder can take a great mark, which was highlighted at Patersons Stadium when he took a spectacular grab against WA in the Under 18 championships earlier this year.
“I’m really happy to be on board,” Crozier said.
“You dream as a kid what it would be like to play a game of AFL footy. To think it might be a reality is very exciting.
“I can’t wait to get to WA.”
Draft: what the Dockers say
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In summary
Fremantle has a balanced list and left the NAB AFL Draft with extra options in all areas of the ground. It used three of its picks on midfielders, one on a running defender and another – its second choice – on skilful forward Hayden Crozier, complementing the existing potential at the club.
What the recruiter said
“We’re really happy with our group. We just look to take the best player and we did that with taking a half-forward, a tall back and a couple of midfielders, and we’ll get Zac Dawson in the pre-season draft. The spread we’ve got has been pretty good.” Fremantle list manager Brad Lloyd.
Pick 16: Tom Sheridan, Calder Cannons
Lloyd says: “It’s good to get Tom with our first pick. He’s got really nice endurance and moves really well. He’s a nice, clean player so he was great to get.”
Pick 20: Hayden Crozier, Eastern Ranges
Lloyd says: “He took just about the best mark I’ve ever seen watching any level of footy when he played Western Australia at Subiaco. It’s a real bonus for us to get him.”
Five new recruits dock at Freo
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The Fremantle Dockers have continued the club’s youth policy by adding five teenagers to its list at tonight’s NAB AFL National Draft at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre.
Fremantle was one of only three clubs with three picks under 30, including two in the first round, which were used to secure Victorians Thomas Sheridan (pick 16) and Hayden Crozier (pick 20).
They were followed by South Australian trio Alex Forster (pick 29), Lachie Neale (pick 58) and Cam Sutcliffe (pick 71).
Sheridan, an 18-year-old midfielder, has had a very consistent year, coming second in the Calder Cannons best and fairest despite missing games for his Vic Metro championship commitments.
The 185cm youngster plays as a running midfielder/wingman. His main strength is his endurance.
He is a very smart footballer with extremely clean and quick hands. Sheridan averaged 24.4 touches a game, 4.7 tackles, 3.8 clearances and four marks per game at TAC level.
Pick 71: Cam Sutcliffe
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South Australian Cam Sutcliffe is Freo’s final pick in the Draft after the club passed on pick 72.
Pick 71 – Cam Sutcliffe – 17yrs, 187cm – Cam has been playing for Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL. He played 9 League and 12 reserves games this year. He is very balanced running midfielder with exceptional work rate. He reads the game very well and is very good at stoppages with his hands. His spread from stoppages is exceptional. He is a terrific character and the hardest trainer at the Eagles. Cam averaged 19.6 disposals a game at SANFL Reserves level. Cam tested exceptionally across the board at the state combine: 81 Running VJ. 3.02 20m time. 8.11 Agility. 24.63 repeat sprint and a 15.3 beep.
Pick 71 Fact – The Western Bulldogs picked up their current star full-back Brian Lake at pick 71 in the 2001 National Draft.
Other notable pick 71s
Justin Westhoff (Port Adelaide 2006)
Pick 58: Lachie Neale
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South Australian Lachie Neale is the fourth selection for Freo in the Draft.
Pick 58 – Lachie Neale – 18yrs, 177cm – Lachie has had an outstanding season. He dominated U18 footy for Glenelg, played all 5 championship games for South Australia and finished the last 7 games in Glenelgs League side having a real impact. He is an inside midfielder who can play forward and apply terrific pressure. He is tough and wins contested footy. He has an enormous workrate and desire to get the footy. His clean hands and quick handballs are elite. Lachie is an outstanding character. Lachie’s testing at the state combine was impressive across the board. His standing VJ of 73 and RVJ of 95 is elite. His 8.24 agility, 14.2 beep and 3.00 sprint are all very good times as well. Lachie averaged 31.3 disposals, 5.6 marks, 5.1 inside 50s and 6.4 clearances per game at SA U18 level.
Pick 58 Fact – Reigning Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan was selected by Collingwood at pick 58 in the 2003 National Draft.
Other notable pick 58s
Ben Hudson (Adelaide 2003)
Pick 29: Alex Forster
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South Australian Alex Forster is the third selection for Freo in the Draft.
Pick 29 – Alex Forster – 18yrs, 189cm – Alex had a very good year playing 8 reserves and 5 League games for Norwood. He played all 5 State championship games and won All Australian selection. He was vice captain of the SA state 18s team this year and is seen as a future club leader. Alex is played mainly as a 3rd tall defender and freed up as often as possible to use his elite kicking skills and ability to read the play very well. He is a great decision maker who remains extremely composed and has clean hands.
Pick 29 Fact- Current Fremantle assistant coach Todd Curley was also taken with pick 29 by the Western Bulldogs in 1995.
Other notable pick 30s
Wayne Campbell (Richmond 1989)
Tyson Stenglein (Adelaide 1998)
Adam Hunter (West Coast 1999)
Dayne Beams (Collingwood 2008)
Pick 20: Hayden Crozier
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Fremantle has selected Victorian midfielder Hayden Crozier with pick 20.
Pick 20 – Hayden Crozier – 17yrs, 185cm – A stand out at the NAB AFL Draft Combine, recording the second best result in the running vertical jump test at 91cm. He also managed fine results in the 20m sprint (2.89 seconds), and in the agility run (8.08 seconds – top six). He represented Vic Metro at the NAB AFL U18 Championships, playing in all five games. He can take a great mark, which was highlighted at Patersons Stadium when he took a spectacular grab against WA. Crozier kicked eight goals during the championships. He is very well balanced and a beautiful kick of the footy on his preferred left side. He averaged 18.7 disposals for the Ranges this year at 67.4 per cent efficiency.
Pick 20 fact – This is the third Draft in a row that Fremantle has pick 20. We have previously selected Nat Fyfe (2009) and Jayden Pitt (2010).
Other notable players selected at pick 16 in previous AFL National Drafts
Adrian Fletcher (Geelong 1988)
Scott Cummings (Essendon 1992)
Dean Solomon (Essendon 1997)
Kane Cornes (Port Adelaide 2000)
Pick 16: Thomas Sheridan
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Fremantle has selected Victorian midfielder Thomas Sheridan with pick 16.
Pick 16 – Tom Sheridan – 18yrs, 185cm – has had a very consistent year coming 2nd in the Calder Cannons best and fairest despite missing games for his Vic Metro championship commitments. Tom plays as a running midfielder/wingman. His main strength is his endurance in games and backed up by a 9min 58sec 3km time trial and a 15.7 beep at draft camp. He is a very smart footballer with extremely clean and quick hands with great vision. He glides across the ground at high speed. Skills by foot are sound. Tom averaged 24.4 touches a game, 4.7 tackles, 3.8 clearances and 4 marks at TAC level.
Pick 16 fact – Port Adelaide has had the past 3 pick 16s in the National Draft.
Other notable players selected at pick 16 in previous AFL National Drafts
Scott Thompson (Melbourne 2000)
Brett Burton (Adelaide 1998)
Adem Yze (Melbourne 1994)
Fraser Gehrig (West Coast 1993)
Guts and determination
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by DockerNow.com
in News
The look of pain and determination on Hayden Ballantyne’s face matched his cries of agony as he willed himself over the finish line with a gut-busting burst that left nothing in the tank.
The pocket-rocket was one of a number of Fremantle Dockers at McGillvray Oval in Claremont today for the first 3km time trials of the 2012 pre-season.
“There was a bit of grunting and groaning going on there,” Ballantyne said.
“I was fairly knackered by the end of it.”
Ballantyne wants some time in the midfield in 2012 and he showed he had improved his ability to run hard and fast for sustained periods.
“Fitness is a big thing for me this year, trying to push up the ground a bit more and get a bigger fitness base in general,” he said.
