South Fremantle announces signing of Nick Suban

THE South Fremantle Football Club is excited to announce the signing of 156-game AFL player with the Fremantle Dockers and triple WAFL premiership player Nick Suban for the 2018 WAFL season.

Suban was delisted by Fremantle following the 2017 season bringing an end a 156-match career in the AFL with the Dockers that began in 2009.

He was drafted to Fremantle with selection No. 24 in the 2008 AFL Draft from the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup.

Along the way in his 156-game career with the Dockers, he was a regular and important member of the team for significant periods. He was there for Fremantle’s Grand Final appearance against Hawthorn in 2013 as well.

He became a life member of Fremantle in 2017 despite playing just the 12 AFL games, but he reached the 150-game milestone.

The 27-year-old finished the season playing in the WAFL with Peel Thunder where he went on to win a third premiership in the competition.

His first came with Claremont in 2012 before he was part of Peel Thunder’s maiden premiership victory in 2016 and was there again this year as they went back-to-back.

Suban built his reputation in the AFL with Fremantle as a tough and tenacious player who could play any number of roles asked of him – whether that be a run-with role through the middle, playing a tight-checking role off half-back or setting up play out of defence.

His ability to win the hard ball inside but also use his running ability and a lethal left-boot have been behind him being a 156-game AFL player.

Now aged just 27 with that AFL experience behind and as a triple WAFL premiership player, he is a significant signing for South Fremantle in 2018.

The Bulldogs are coming off successive preliminary final appearances the past two years and Suban has been part of a Peel line-up beating South Fremantle along the way on both occasions.

He is now going to be a significant piece of the South Fremantle team looking to build on what it has done the past two years, but also improve further to get closer to that elusive first WAFL premiership since 2009.

The signing of Suban takes on extra significance following the departure of superstar midfielder Tim Kelly who banged down the door to earn his AFL opportunity with Geelong.

But Suban’s signing is on the back of plenty of good news for South Fremantle with Marlion Pickett, Steven Edwards, Blayne Wilson, Jacob Dragovich, Shane Hockey, Ashton Hams, Mason Shaw, Dylan Main, Blaine Johnson, Tom Vandeleur, Steve Verrier and Brendan Verrier already re-signing for 2018.

Suban has already started his pre-season training with South Fremantle since the group returned to the track to begin preparations for 2018.

South Fremantle chief executive Tom Bottrell was delighted to announce the signing of Suban on the same night as the club’s Annual General Meeting for 2017.

“It is a significant signing for the club given that we have lost Tim Kelly to Geelong,” Bottrell said.

“Nick brings an element of toughness and leadership to the group and he can play anywhere pretty much on the ground. We are rapt to have him on board at South Fremantle as we look towards building on what we’ve done over the last couple of years further in 2018.”