Bulldogs pair selected in NAB AFL Draft

SOUTH Fremantle has produced another two players to enter the AFL system with ruckman Tim English and exciting small forward Shai Bolton selected in Friday’s NAB Draft in Sydney.

English was the first of the Bulldogs pair to be selected when taken at pick 19 by reigning AFL premiers the Western Bulldogs.

Bolton was then taken by Richmond with pick No. 29.

The pair join fellow South Fremantle products Kade Stewart (Hawthorn), Callum Ah Chee (Gold Coast), Billy Frampton (Port Adelaide), Jarrod Pickett (Carlton), Cam McCarthy (Fremantle), Brendon Ah Chee (Port Adelaide), Shane Kersten (Fremantle) and Brandon Matera (Gold Coast) in the AFL in 2017.

It capped a successful NAB AFL Draft for Western Australia with 10 players selected included two in the top 10, and four in the first round.

That is the best result in a National Draft for WA in a decade highlighting the success the increased resources that have been put into the development program is having.

Sam Petrevski-Seton was the first player picked from WA when selected by Carlton with pick No. 6.

Swan Districts’ big man Griffin Logue went to Fremantle with pick No. 8 followed by East Perth’s Sam Powell-Pepper to Port Adelaide at pick 18, Perth’s Zac Fisher to Carlton (27), West Perth’s Josh Rotham to West Coast (37), Claremont’s Darcy Cameron to Sydney (48), Perth’s Quinton Narkle to Geelong (60) and Claremont’s Jake Waterman to West Coast (77).

Meanwhile, West Coast also drafted former South Fremantle colts and reserves player Willie Rioli. Back in 2013, he played 11 combined colts and reserves matches with the Bulldogs for 37 goals.

However, he clearly wasn’t in the shape required to take the next step at that time. But to his credit, he got knuckled down after moving to Glenelg in the SANFL. The 21-year-old lost in the vicinity of 30kgs and to his credit is now on an AFL list with the West Coast Eagles.

But the draft result again highlighted the success that South Fremantle continues to have in producing some of the best talent in the country.

English will now join the reigning AFL premiers where the young ruckman will have the chance to develop and earn a place in a confident, and talented playing group.

Meanwhile, Bolton has a chance to make a real immediate impact at a Richmond team looking to put itself back in the finals mix in 2017 following a horror 2016.

Bolton could add some real bit to the forward-line and the potential of him partnering with Daniel Rioli is enough to make Tigers supporters salivate over what the future could hold.

For those players not selected in Friday’s NAB AFL Draft, it’s not time to despair. The AFL Rookie Draft takes place on Monday with plenty more spots available on lists in 2017.