FREMANTLE will select late bolter Stephen Hill with its third selection in Saturday’s NAB AFL Draft, according to The West Australian newspaper.

The newspaper reported on Thursday morning that the club decided to go for the West Perth midfielder at its final pre-draft meeting on Wednesday.

Subiaco midfielder Daniel Rich had been the hot tip for No.3 behind Jack Watts (who is expected to go to Melbourne with pick No.1) and Nick Naitanui (West Coast, No 2).

But Hill came home with a wet sail after a strong showing in the national under-18 championships and a solid performance in West Perth’s senior team during the finals.

Hill was also impressive at the NAB AFL Draft Camp in Canberra, breaking the agility test record and coming third in the 20m sprint and the vertical leap.

AFL youth and high performance coordinator Jason McCartney said Hill had jumped up several rungs during the under-18 championships.

“He played with great bounce and agility (for Western Australia) and it was no coincidence that he broke the record for the agility test at the draft camp,” McCartney said.

Rich has played in two senior premierships for Subiaco as a teenager and looks a ready-made AFL type which made Fremantle’s decision more difficult.

Freo coach Mark Harvey refused to disclose the club’s decision but told The West Australian that the club’s selection could still be changed if the Demons or Eagles produced shock picks.

Harvey also said Fremantle would utilise all eight of their selections on Saturday. The club has picks three, 21, 24, 37, 53, 56, 68 and 77, and Harvey said the recruiting staff had been given criteria to follow.

It is not clear how that affects the plight of former Brisbane Lion, Matthew Moody, who has been training with Fremantle in the hope of being drafted.

Moody has nominated for Saturday’s draft and his and other draft hopefuls profiles can be found by clicking here.