Freo adds four midfielders

[Ricochet]

Pretty happy with what we were able to achieve here. I'm backing in our current young kpp stocks from the last few drafts to develop further and fill our defensive needs.



http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/2014-11-27/freo-adds-four-midfielders

Fremantle general manager of player management Brad Lloyd says the club picked the best available player with each of its four picks at Thursday night's NAB AFL Draft on the Gold Coast.

All Freo's picks were midfielders - Tasmanian Lachlan Weller (pick 13), West Australians Connor Blakely (34) and Josh Deluca (68) and Victorian Ed Langdon (54).

Many draft experts had predicted the club would seek out key position talent, but Lloyd said Freo came into the draft with no immediate plan to pick talls.

"We would have liked to mix it up a little bit where we could, but we just went the best available player," he said.

"We've added talls over the past couple of years, with Michael Apeness, Matt Taberner and Alex Pearce.

"We've gone out of our way to draft talls, so we thought we would start topping up our midfielders now."

The club's first pick was Weller, who moved to Queensland as a 15-year-old and last year played for Southport in the NEAFL.

He is the younger brother of Maverick Weller, who plays for St Kilda.

"Lachlan's really athletic with good speed and good endurance and he can go overhead," Lloyd said.

"He's got a classy finish and a good sidestep, and on top of that he's a really quality person, so we're excited to bolster our midfield with someone of Lachie's character, both on and off the field."

Lloyd said Blakely, a 189cm midfielder from Swan Districts, has the ability to impact quickly in the AFL.

"We were really excited to see Connor there at pick 34," he said.

"He's a good tall midfielder and he had good impact at senior WAFL level for Swan Districts.

"He's a good stoppage clearance player so we feel that he can come in there and add to our big midfielders."

Langdon was the second brother of a current AFL player drafted by Freo on Thursday night, with Tom at Collingwood.

"Ed's played mainly a running midfield role but he's got elite endurance," Lloyd said.

"He really covers the ground with speed and he has big running capacity, so he's going to come across and enjoy the big grounds and add run to the side."

Deluca was the club's final selection. He excelled in Subiaco's WAFL premiership this season.

"Josh has got strong running capacity, as well," Lloyd said.

"He has strong endurance, good speed, work ethic and attack on the footy.

"He can come in and have some presence around the club with the way he goes about his footy, from an attitude and football point of view."

[Mr.Craig]

Some smooth movers.

[Jroo]

You'd be stoked with Weller and Blakely!

[Bully]

You'd be stoked with Weller and Blakely!

If Richmond had secured these two I would have been delirious. Both will make a BIG impression next year, potential top 5 selections in the Rising Star.

[Pkbaldy]

You'd be stoked with Weller and Blakely!

If Richmond had secured these two I would have been delirious. Both will make a BIG impression next year, potential top 5 selections in the Rising Star.

Maybe in a year or two. Freo isn't known to play first years too often. Though Blakely looks ready made. Be interesting to see how quickly these two get put into the system.

[henry]

You would think any of these guys that play would be more likely to get vests than not, considering that's how young players have been integrated into the team in the last couple of seasons.

[Ricochet]

Connor isn't exactly sub material because he's not explosive and lacks pace. Personally reckon we'll see Weller before we'll see Blakely in the 1s

[anchorman]

Blakely and Deluca have both played at the second level, WAFL, so would be closer to the league than the other two. That's my opinion on them.
I am impressed that the club think that they have recruited the big boys we need already.
I know I have said it here before and got howled down, but Fyfe will play a lot at CHF this season. Pavlich will play from the goals square. So that will leave a space for another midfielder in the side. Walters may fill that role as Lyon said at the end of last season. Duffy sitting on the wings... either as a mid or a small forward.
All we need now is for the big men to stand up and be counted.
 

[Ricochet]

Sorry man but Fyfe playing a permanent CHF won't happen anytime soon. He's one of the best mids in the comp

[anchorman]

I think it will. Not worried about him being one of the best mids in the competition, he will be the best CHF in the competition.
Lyon has said as much himself that Fyfe will play more forward this season.

[Ricochet]

yeh to break tags though, like a lot of mids do. To play him as a standalone chf would take him away from the action too much

[kilbluff1985]

don't mind the idea if you have enough mids like Blakely and Weller why not play Fyfe forward more

guys like Suban should be worried about there JS

[valkorum]

Maybe in a year or two. Freo isn't known to play first years too often. Though Blakely looks ready made. Be interesting to see how quickly these two get put into the system.

Once again someone having an opinion based on no facts.  Probably based off the stigma that Ross got while at St Kilda (that he didnt play rookies)

Recent players who played in 1st year

2013
Michael Apeness - Played
Brady Grey - Travelling emergency a few times
Matt Taberner (rookie promoted) - Played
Alex Pearce - Didnt play but did have some injuries

2012
Josh Simpson - Played that year but had personal issues and was delisted this year
Max Duffy - Didnt play in 1st year due to injury but played this year
Lee Spurr (Rookie promotoed) - Played
Clancee Pearce (Rookie promoted) - Played

2011
Tom Shridan - Played as a sub mainly (From memory)
Lachie Neale - Played
Carmeron Sutcliffe - Played
Hayden Crozier - Played
Alex Forster - Injured in 1st year but has only played 1 game since.

[anchorman]

yeh to break tags though, like a lot of mids do. To play him as a standalone chf would take him away from the action too much

He wont play there to break tags as you suggest, He will play games there full stop.
Maybe he wont play there every week but he is the likely replacement for Pavlich. Everyone is looking elsewhere the Pavlich replacement, but he is already at the club. In three years time everyone will be saying that Fyfe is the best CHF since Carey.

[elephants]

Haha, imo that is so so unlikely. But hey, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Will be interesting to watch that evolve over the next 2-3 years.