This is about Freo's picks 6 & 8 but our pick 7 is between theirs so it's relevant to us as a guide.PICK 6 OPTIONS
This draft selection is likely to turn into Pick 8, with Nick Daicos (Collingwood) and Sam Darcy (Western Bulldogs) almost certain to attract bids within the first four selections.
By this time, SA star Jason Horne-Francis will be off the table – possibly by Pick 1 – while exciting utility Mac Andrew and gun midfielder Finn Callaghan should’ve also been snapped up by other clubs.
There’s also a strong chance a team would’ve pounced on GWV Rebels defender
Josh Gibcus – the Jake Lever of this draft with his awesome intercepting ability – by then. But that won’t concern the Dockers, as they’re already stacked with key backmen.
If those six are off the board, it’d mean one of
Ben Hobbs,
Josh Ward and
Josh Rachele would be available at the Dockers’ first selection.
Excluding one NAB League match where he got injured, Hobbs averaged 29.2 disposals, 6.2 clearances and 0.8 goals per game this year. But he is more a contested ball winner – and the Dockers are keen for some outside run, especially with Cerra being a high uncontested possession player
Ward would be a great get for Freo. Not only can he win the ball at will – he averaged 30.2 disposals in the NAB League this year — he loves to run and carry, is a polished distributor and has the potential to play very early AFL footy in 2022.
Rachele looms as a wildcard selection but could help address the Dockers’ pressure issue. An uber-talented forward-midfielder blessed with goalkicking nous and x-factor, Rachele is a maximum impact player in that most of his disposals lead to scores for his team. He kicked 11 goals from four NAB League matches — the best goals-per-match average in the competition — while he also ranked second for average score involvements (7.5).
Rachele could be taken as high as Pick 5, but could also slide to late in the first round. Murray Bushrangers talent manager Mick Wilson told The West Australian he’s had “lots of conversations” with the Dockers and Eagles about Rachele.
The Dockers could also pounce on some of the top WA talent at this selection, but they’d be hopeful a few would still be available two picks later.
PICK 8 OPTIONSThis selection will almost certainly be Pick 10 – and it’s also where the WA prospects will start to draw interest.
Arguably the state’s top prospect is Subiaco’s
Neil Erasmus, who was the second-highest ranked player in the WAFL colts, according to Champion Data, and was among the top five players for disposals, contested possessions, intercept marks, clearances and score assists. The 188cm midfielder showed in last year’s WAFL colts grand final he can also be dangerous up forward, kicking four goals as a bottom-ager in Subiaco’s premiership triumph.
If the Dockers don’t go for a midfielder with their first selection and Erasmus is still available two selections later, it’s hard to see them passing on him.
But it’s also the selection where the Dockers could look to address their key forward chasm – and East Perth’s
Jye Amiss is arguably the best key forward in the open draft.
The 195cm prospect was deadly in front of goal this year, booting 51.14 from 13 home and away WAFL colts matches – clearly the most in the competition. He also ranked second in the WAFL colts for contested marks (3.0) and No. 1 for marks inside 50 (3.5).
Another WA young gun that could be in the mix is Subiaco’s
Matthew Johnson, who had a strong finish to his 2021 campaign. His early-season form in the colts was awesome before he struggled to adapt at league level. But he found his groove in the reserves, averaging 25 disposals and seven marks from his final three games, which included two finals. He was then named WA’s best player in an Under 19 challenge game against SA at Optus Stadium on AFL Grand Final day, showing great poise with 21 disposals and five clearances.
Johnson is a classy outside ball-winner with great footy nous and decision-making skills. Although Fremantle’s second selection might be a bit too early for him.
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And who will be available in the early second round if we could trade for an upgraded pick.PICK 19 OR PICK 22 OPTIONSWhichever selection the Dockers ultimately take to the draft, they’ll have plenty of terrific options at the start of the second round. Again the pick will be at least two spots back after the Daicos and Darcy father-son bids.
If the Dockers are still looking to draft an outside runner at the start of the second round, they’d be hopeful Sandringham’s
Josh Sinn would be available after an injury-interrupted 2021. At 186cm, Sinn is a line-breaker that uses his natural leg speed, run and carry ability to gain territory for his side.
But picking up Sinn in the second round might be wishful thinking.
There’ll be ample midfielders to choose at this point, too.
Matthew Roberts (South Adelaide) could still be on the board, as could
Sam Butler (GWV Rebels) and
Zac Taylor (Calder Cannons). Roberts and Taylor tend to win more uncontested ball than Butler, who’s the brother of St Kilda’s Dan Butler.
If the Dockers haven’t taken a key forward by the second round, two WA products could fit the bill.
Claremont’s
Jacob Van Rooyen was unleashed at WAFL league level for five games this year, but did most of his damage at WAFL colts level, booting 34.14 from nine games – an impressive average of nearly four goals per outing. He also starred for WA’s Under 19s side as a backman after a year that was interrupted by glandular fever.
East Fremantle’s
Jack Williams could also still be available. Williams is a versatile 196cm prospect that kicked 40.24 in the WAFL colts this season, including two goals in a semi-final then three goals in a prelim. But he also played both as a key defender and pinch-hit ruckman throughout the season, averaging 14.5 disposals, 5.9 marks and 9.2 hit-outs per game.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/fremantle-dockers/afl-draft-2021-fremantle-trade-news-jordan-clark-deal-rory-lobb-giants-latest-neil-erasmus-jye-amiss-jacob-van-rooyen/news-story/258e08246521ce6fab2e524fca101c1d
