Anything and Everything Fremantle
Posts tagged New Recruits
Neale stands up for Fremantle
Feb 20th
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has praised draftee Lachie Neale after the teenage midfielder made an impressive start to his AFL career in Sunday’s NAB Cup matches against Essendon and West Coast.
Neale, who was selected with pick No.58 in the 2011 NAB AFL Draft, has been one of Fremantle’s standout performers this summer and he took that form onto Patersons Stadium for the club’s opening pre-season matches.
The South Australian kicked two goals in his team’s 36-point win over Essendon before a quieter match against West Coast and Lyon said he had slotted in well against AFL opposition.
“He did (look comfortable),” the coach said on Sunday night. “I suppose we’ve been a little bit bullish about him.
“In the second game he faded, but that was to be expected and it would have been easy to sub him out but we just kept him going.
“He’s just put another step in the right direction.”
Spurr and Neale on Thunder radar
Jan 28th
Peel Thunder are tossing up between Fremantle pair Lee Spurr and Lachie Neale for the first selection in next month’s allocation of interstate AFL draftees.
Spurr, 24, was the Dockers’ first rookie draft pick at No.8 last year.
The 183cm utility player looms as the club’s latest mature-age wild-card on the back of three premierships with SANFL powerhouse Central District.
Neale, who has played senior football for Glenelg in the SANFL, is a 177cm pocket rocket capable of playing as an inside midfielder and forward.
Just the Spurr for Dockers
Dec 16th
New Fremantle rookie Lee Spurr’s story is one of genuine persistence.
Spurr was on the verge of leaving SANFL powerhouse Central District four years ago to return home to Brisbane, but opted to stay and work on several key aspects of his game that the coaches had identified as areas needing improvement.
They included increasing his speed and adding intensity to his attack on the ball.
The result was a key role in Central’s continued dominance of the SANFL and, eventually, a shot at the big time after Fremantle selected Spurr with pick eight in Tuesday’s rookie draft.
Dawson to repay faith
Dec 16th
Pre-season recruit Zac Dawson says he considers himself extremely lucky to finally be a Fremantle player and he has his sights set on a strong 2012 season to repay the club.
The key defender, who joined Fremantle this week via the NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft, walked out on St Kilda in November after 63 games – including the 2009 and 2010 Grand Finals – rejecting a new contract offer from the club.
Fremantle pounced with pick No.10 in Tuesday’s draft and Dawson said he was fortunate to be given a third AFL chance, having started his career with Hawthorn in 2004.
“I was extremely lucky to get a second chance and now to get a third chance, it doesn’t happen very often,” the 25-year-old said from Fremantle Oval on Friday.
“I’m very thankful to the club and Ross [Lyon] and everyone who helped me get over here.
“I feel like I owe them and I’m very grateful for my situation.”
Four stars win a start in AFL rookie draft
Dec 15th
Territory players took four big marks in yesterday’s AFL rookie draft.
Darwin Buffalo Jordan Wilson and Federal utility Gibson Turner are joining Fremantle and Richmond.
Former Western Bulldog and Tiwi islander Malcolm Lynch heads to North Melbourne at pick No. 43 and Anthony Long (ex-St Marys) gets a second chance at Essendon after the Bombers targeted him at pick No. 85.
Richmond got Turner at pick No. 60 in the draft, while Fremantle went for Wilson at No. 61.
Hayden will give rookie heads up on defending
Dec 15th
Rookie Jordan King-Wilson will serve an apprenticeship under the guidance of the very man whose place he will be aiming to take in Fremantle’s ranks.
The 18-year-old from Darwin, who will head west after being selected with pick No.61 in the AFL rookie draft, has already been earmarked as a potential like-for- like replacement for defender Roger Hayden.
And it will be to Hayden whom the teenager will be able to turn to during his first pre-season, with the retired veteran now serving as a development coach at the Dockers.
Fremantle list manager Brad Lloyd did not hide the distinct similarities between the pair.
Both are offensively-minded defenders capable of streaming out of the back line and using the ball with precision.
It was a trait King-Wilson showed repeatedly with the Northern Territory Thunder and with North Adelaide while boarding in Adelaide this year.
Sam to play it again at Freo
Dec 15th
AFL football is a roller-coaster, but is not meant to be as tense as it has been for Sam Menegola over the past month.
The tension was replaced by relief and happiness yesterday when Fremantle drafted him with their third pick in the rookie draft.
Menegola had at least three clubs interested. He was on West Coast, Fremantle and St Kilda’s shortlists. But there were also nagging doubts because the last month had taught him to take nothing for granted.
“That’s a very hard way to make a living,” he said. “A roller-coaster. I am just relieved that it is over and I am excited that I have got a gig. Now I just have to put my head down and try and play some good footy.”
The story started 12 months ago when Fremantle, the club he had trained with and who intended drafting him with pick 20 in the rookie draft, were pipped by Hawthorn, who took him at pick 19.
At season’s end he was the subject of a failed trade between the Hawks and Saints which ended unhappily when Hawthorn de-listed him.
Menegola happy to be home
Dec 13th
Sam Menegola is ecstatic to have a footy home again after Fremantle selected him with pick 44 in the AFL Rookie Draft today.
The 19-year-old said the main emotions he had experienced since hearing the news were relief and excitement.
“Relief that the off-season is over and I’ve found a home, and excitement because I can get stuck into it,” he said.
“I can’t wait to put my head down and work really hard and try and play some really good footy next year.”
Menegola was hoping to be a Freo Docker one year ago when he trained with the club during the pre-season.
But Hawthorn threw a spanner in the works when they selected the East Fremantle colt with pick 19 in the Rookie Draft – one ahead of Freo at pick 20.
After a season with the Hawks, Menegola was delisted, leaving him on Freo’s radar once again.
Schloithe pumped to be a Freo Docker
Dec 13th
Haiden Schloithe, a member of South Fremantle Colts’ premiership winning team this season, said he had no idea Fremantle was going to pick him in the Rookie Draft, but that he was excited when the club called out his name.
“I was pretty pumped,” he said.
Schloithe rates his contested ball-winning ability as the strongest part of his game.
“I’m also good at getting forward and kicking a goal.”
But the 18-year-old also acknowledged he had a few areas he still needed to work on to play at AFL level.
“I need to work on my fitness and my ability to kick on my opposite (left) foot,” he said.
Schloithe also represented WA in the NAB Under 18s carnival this season.
Freo mature-agers a Spurr for Lee
Dec 13th
Fremantle’s first selection in the 2012 AFL Rookie Draft is hoping he can be the club’s next mature-age recruit to make it at the top level.
Twenty-four-year-old Lee Spurr has nominated for all the drafts in the past three years without any success, but Fremantle today gave the SANFL star the chance to realise his dream.
“I was absolutely pumped when Freo mentioned my name,” he said.
“I was stoked to go pretty early in the draft which put my mind at ease a bit.”
Spurr said watching the likes of Michael Barlow and Nick Lower succeed at AFL level after enjoying solid VFL and SANFL seasons respectively, coupled with Fremantle’s faith in its rookies in recent years was heartening.
“Those guys were given their opportunity by the club and they took it,” he said.
