South Fremantle AFL National Draft Preview

SOUTH Fremantle looks set to potentially provide the largest contingent of players into the AFL with the chance of up to 10 players in line to be selected in Thursday’s National Draft on the Gold Coast.

Along with Jarrod Pickett, Jarrod Garlett and Billy Frampton appearing certainties to be drafted from South Fremantle, Matthew Ah Siu, Cameron Loersch, Haiden Schloithe, Jermaine Miller-Lewis, Callum Ah Chee, Kade Stewart, Brad McPhail and Jacob Dragovich have attracted interest as well.

Dragovich, Ah Siu, Pickett, Frampton, Stewart, Garlett and McPhail all made at least one appearance in the WA team in the NAB U18 Championships for 2014.

WA’s championships started against South Australia at AAMI Stadium in Adelaide on May 24 with the Croweaters winning 14.8 (92) to 8.13 (61).

Ah Siu picked up 17 possessions, Pickett 15, Garlett 13 and Frampton six, five of which were contested.

Vic Metro then thrashed WA 15.20 (110) to 2.11 (23) at Leederville’s Medibank Stadium with Dragovich finishing with 16 possessions, Ah Siu 14, Pickett 14, Frampton 11 and Stewart 11.

South Australia won 10.11 (71) to 9.12 (66) in a thriller again at Medibank Stadium on June 7 with Pickett outstanding with 22 possessions and three goals. Stewart also had 19 disposals and eight tackles, Dragovich 14 touches and nine tackles, McPhail 10 possessions and Frampton nine.

Vic Country then beat WA at Fremantle Oval by 62 points on June 15 with McPhail finishing with 14 possessions, Pickett 12 and Stewart 12.

Vic Metro beat WA 16.10 (106) to 7.6 (48) at Simonds Stadium on June 27 with Garlett having 12 kicks, Frampton nine possessions and Ah Siu eight, McPhail six and Pickett five.

WA’s carnival ended with a two-point win over Vic Country at Etihad Stadium on July 2 with Garlett racking up 19 possessions, Pickett 15, Frampton 14, Stewart eight and McPhail six.

Pickett is one of the brightest young talents in the country and fresh off his participation in the WA State 18s campaign, he made his league WAFL debut in Round 19 and kicked two goals in the win over East Fremantle, including one with his first kick.

He then put in a stunning performance in the final five minutes in Round 20 against Peel at Fremantle Oval where he kicked one late goal after a spectacular mark, and then added another on the siren to put the Bulldogs in front and secure the one-point win.

He now appears set to be at least a top 10 draft pick on Thursday and possibly even top five.

Garlett was another young gun who had taken part in the State 18s campaign and he made his league debut in Round 21 against Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval. He again played in the Round 22 win over Subiaco kicking a goal and picking up nine possessions in both appearances.

Frampton had another outstanding season for the Bulldogs carrying the load in the ruck, and with his ability to run all day, take a mark, contest in the air and deliver the ball with good skills, he looks a near certainty to be given a chance by an AFL club.

Loersch was also the colts’ leading goalkicker in 2014 with 57 majors while also being named the full-forward in the Colts Team of the Year, and the big man from South Mandurah showed significant improvement throughout 2014.

He did enough to suggest that he could be a long-term full-forward and back up ruckman at WAFL level, or in the AFL if given the opportunity.

Schloithe received the WJ Hughes Medal for 2014 in recognition of a terrific season he delivered as an attacking, goalkicking midfielder in his first season back full time with the Bulldogs after two seasons on the Fremantle Dockers’ rookie-list.

The 21-year-old was a colts premiership player with South Fremantle prior to being picked up by Fremantle and was quick to rejoin the Bulldogs for 2014, and put together a season that could very well lead him back into the AFL.

Schloithe kicked 25 goals in his 20 games this season including four in Round 6 against East Fremantle and he also averaged almost 24 possessions a game including 38 in Round 4 against Swan Districts, 37 in Round 5 against West Perth and 30 in Round 16 against Perth.

Ah Siu completed his second season with South Fremantle’s colts and was named the fairest and best player for 2014 claiming the Dave Ingraham Memorial Medal.

The 18-year-old 195cm but agile and quick midfielder and forward delivered a strong season in his 15 games with the Bulldogs averaging 24.4 possessions a game to go with kicking 12 goals.

Dragovich also completed his second full season with the South Fremantle colts team and was tremendous in his 16 matches averaging almost 24 disposals a game while also doing well as a goalkicker booting 14 for the year.

He also got a taste of senior football with three reserves matches toward the end of the season and was tremendous with 25, 22 and 24 possessions respectively.

Stewart followed in the footsteps of older brother Tim by claiming the Best First Year Player award just 12 months after he claimed the same award.

Tim graduated to playing 17 reserves matches in 2014 and finished third in the fairest and best award announced earlier this month, while Kade had a terrific year with the colts averaging almost 18 possessions as a midfielder.

McPhail took out the Best Team Man award in 2013 and now in 2014 he received the Leadership Award, and he could very well have the tools to end up playing AFL football if provided the opportunity.