Anything and Everything Fremantle
Posts tagged New Recruits
Fremantle lands VFL defender via Gold Coast
Oct 7th
Fremantle has gained pre-listed Gold Coast defender Peter Faulks in exchange for the upgrade of a late selection in next month’s NAB AFL Draft.
In its first deal of trade week, Fremantle swapped its third-round pick (No.55) for Gold Coast’s fourth-round selection (61) to secure Faulks, who spent 2007 and 2008 on the Sydney Swans’ senior list.
Gold Coast can pre-list up to 10 former AFL players under its draft concessions.
Faulks, 22, played full-back for Williamstown in 2010, and made the VFL team of with year.
A former Casey Scorpions teammate of Fremantle defender Alex Silvagni, he impressed the club at the recent NAB AFL Draft State Combine.
“He excelled particularly in the 20m sprint and vertical jump testing. At 195cm, he is a key defender who has a fierce competitive nature and elite closing speed,” Fremantle recruiting manager Brad Lloyd said.
Fremantle has lost key defender Chris Tarrant, who is likely to join Collingwood during trade week, while Antoni Grover is 30 and Luke McPharlin turns 29 in December.
However, the club would be heartened by its recent VFL record, with rookie-listed midfielder Michael Barlow enjoying a very successful debut season in 2010 until he suffered a serious leg injury.
Ashley Prescott appointed
Sep 17th
The Fremantle Football Club has appointed Ashley Prescott as a development coach for season 2011.
A former Richmond and Fremantle player who went on to coach Claremont in the WAFL (2004-2007), the 38-year-old has been a member of Essendon’s coaching staff for the past three years.
Prescott will report to senior development coach Simon Lloyd.
In other changes to the club’s coaching staff, current development coach Michael Prior has been appointed assistant coach, filling a vacancy left by the departure of Dean Wallis.
Bollenhagen to debut
Jul 29th
Fremantle has been boosted by the inclusion of stars David Mundy and Chris Tarrant for Sunday’s Carlton Mid Derby against West Coast at Subiaco Oval.
And first year player Justin Bollenhagen, 18, has been named to make his AFL debut.
Ruckman Kepler Bradley and forward Michael Walters have also been named in a 25-man squad that will be trimmed to a final 22 on Friday afternoon.
Rhys Palmer is out after he suffered a bruised shoulder in last weekend’s loss to the Western Bulldogs.
Clancee Pearce will also miss with a knee injury.
Mundy was a late withdrawal with illness last week, but his return will help strengthen a Fremantle midfield that was outplayed by a more experienced Dogs’ engine room.
Bradley had been in career-best form until a knee injury kept him out of the Bulldogs’ match.
He will help Aaron Sandilands battle Eagles’ ruck duo Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui.
Tarrant’s heel injury has forced him out of action since round 13.
His presence will solidify Freo’s defence, which has had talls Luke McPharlin, Antoni Grover and Alex Silvagni missing at various stages of the past two months.
Bollenhagen hails from South Australia and was the 52nd pick in the 2009 AFL Draft.
Freo unearth another secret gem
Jul 26th
Emerging Sydney Uni colt, Craig Moller, performed exceptionally well for the NSW/ACT Rams in the recent U16 National Championships.
The team finished third in the Division Two section of the competition, accounting for the Northern Territory and a World XVI while going down to Queensland in the first game. Tasmania were the eventual champions.
Moller finished the series as NSW/ACT’s most valuable player with consistent efforts across all three games, playing in the ruck and across the forward line.
He is now focusing on returning to club action for Sydney University and pushing his case for GWS selection in the latter part of the year.
Moller is a product of Cronulla Junior Football Club and transferred to Sydney University this season after his family recently moved into the area. He attends SUANFC pathway school Sydney Boys HS and is on scholarship with the Fremantle Dockers.
Well done Craig!
Crichton to debut
Jul 24th
First-year Fremantle player Jesse Crichton will make his AFL debut in Sunday’s clash with the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.
The 19-year-old Tasmanian recruit has been named in Freo’s final 22, along with Antoni Grover, Nick Suban and Clancee Pearce.
The quartet replaces Kepler Bradley (knee), Ryan Crowley (knee), Alex Silvagni (groin) and Paul Hasleby (general soreness).
Crichton, an AIS AFL Academy graduate, was selected by Fremantle with pick 48 in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft after representing Tasmania at the Under-18 Championships.
He has been playing for WAFL side Peel Thunder in 2010, mainly as a midfielder.
Senior coach Mark Harvey said Crichton’s promotion has been well-earned.
Fremantle’s latest recruit
Jun 4th
The Fremantle Football Club is pleased to announce that 16-year-old Thomas Head is the club’s newest NSW Scholarship holder.
Thomas, from Gosford on NSW’s Central Coast, plays for the Niagara Park Demons and has represented his state in athletics.
He is a 195cm key position player with good mobility who covers the ground very well.
Fremantle’s General Manager of Player Management Brad Lloyd said Thomas possesses an excellent mark, long kick and a strong commitment to his football.
“The Fremantle Football Club’s development team have put together a comprehensive development plan for Thomas which will give him the best opportunity to play elite level football,” Lloyd said.
In April, 2006 the AFL (NSW / ACT) Scholarship Program was established to attract quality athletes from the NSW / ACT area to our code by providing a direct path to the elite AFL competition.
By developing a broader base of quality players and coaches, the future quality of the code in NSW, where AFL is emerging, can be enhanced.
Silvagni’s fight begins
May 5th
FREMANTLE rookie Alex Silvagni was given no guarantees when he crossed the country late last year to train with Fremantle and mount a late bid for an AFL career.
Even now, after proving himself as a versatile key defender in his six accomplished AFL games, the 22-year-old’s spot in the side hangs in the balance.
The mature-age recruit has carved a role for himself as Fremantle’s third tall defender in a back six that has emerged as one of the League’s best this season.
But with veteran defender Antoni Grover preparing to return to the backline in coming weeks, Silvagni is set to face competition for his spot.
Jay van Berlo and Clancee Pearce were sent back to the rookie list last week to allow Tim Ruffles (knee) and Scott Thornton (groin) to resume playing in the WAFL, and the same fate awaited Silvagni before Des Headland was placed on the long-term injury list late on Monday.
Headland’s ill fortune was Silvagni’s lucky break, with the Casey Scorpions recruit able to remain on the senior list.
Rejection drives modest Docker Barlow
May 4th
Michael Barlow says years of being rejected by AFL clubs drove him to become the overnight sensation that has taken the competition by storm.
The 22-year-old Fremantle midfielder, who was upgraded from the rookie list in round one, yesterday added the Ross Glendinning Medal to his growing trophy cabinet.
A dual club best and fairest and winner of the VFL’s young player of the year, Barlow had 25 disposals, won five clearances, laid seven tackles and kicked a goal in just his sixth AFL game.
St Kilda considered rookie listing Barlow in 2007, but looked else-where, forcing the on-baller to ply his trade in the VFL.
A ball magnet who averages 28 possessions a game, Barlow said he was now a much better player than when clubs first looked at him.
“I did a pre-season at St Kilda after playing local footy,” he said. “I thought I was ready to go and was disappointed when I didn’t get rookied.
Dockers rookies fighting to stay in team
Apr 29th
Fremantle will begin talks today to decide which three rookies to drop off their senior list after Sunday’s western derby.
Alex Silvagni, Matt de Boer, Clancee Pearce and Jay van Berlo have all played key roles for Fremantle this season, but with injured trio Antoni Grover, Tim Ruffles and Scott Thornton set to return next week, the Dockers must drop three rookies from their main list.
Silvagni and van Berlo have played every game this year, de Boer has been selected three times and Pearce has played in the past two matches.
With the return of Tim Ruffles and Scott Thornton to the main list from the long term injury list, Jay van Berlo and Clancee Pearce are now back on the rookie list.
