DRAFT bolter Sam Sturt hopes to continue his rapid development since turning his back on cricket to focus on football and is eyeing an early-season debut for Fremantle next year.
Sturt and the Dockers' five other draftees were unveiled at Cockburn on Monday after a whirlwind few days since the national and rookie lotteries.
An aggressive batsman, Sturt held ambitions to play underage cricket for Victoria before an invite to train with the Dandenong Stingrays this year changed his priorities.
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While the 189cm half-forward has work to do building his endurance and strength, he is hoping to slot into a remodeled Freo forward line around twin towers Jesse Hogan and Rory Lobb after being taken at pick 17 in the draft.
"I think if you go into a season not thinking you'll play then you're not going to put in the effort that's required. If I'm ready by round one I'm hopeful to play," Sturt said.
Sturt was flattered by comparisons to superstar Fremantle skipper Nat Fyfe and he brings strong character, an area general manager of football Peter Bell said the club was keen to bolster.
"I think it's what all clubs are trying to do," Bell said.
"AFL football is a really tough environment and you need resilience, you need character to get through because there's going to be a lot of obstacles – injuries, form – it all adds up to requiring character to get through.
"We want guys who can ride out the tough times and hopefully get their opportunity in the good times."
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The Dockers traded up the draft to secure their second pick, Luke Valente, at selection 32 after he surprisingly slid down the order.
Valente, who captained South Australia's successful NAB AFL Under-18 Championships team, adds leadership to the rebuilding squad and the stoppage specialist could help cover the loss of Lachie Neale.
"I think leadership is probably a strength of my game and I take my footy pretty seriously, so I try and do everything I can off the field to make sure I'm playing good footy," Valente said.
"My goal now is to work hard. Hopefully I can put in a good pre-season and anything is possible after that."
With picks 57 and 59, the Dockers recruited Williamstown mature-age duo Lachlan Schultz and Brett Bewley, both of whom are eager to debut in 2019.
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Schultz, 20, fills a need for a pressure small forward and booted 31 goals in 17 games in 2017.
Bewley, whose junior career was impacted by a broken collarbone and hand, boasts a penetrating left boot and is a former captain of the Western Jets.
"Everyone talks about my kick, so I worked on (contested ball) and worked on my speed. It helped a lot and I got a bit better self-belief," the 23-year-old said.
"I think my body is ready to go and I believe that I have the ability to step up to the next level.
"I think Fremantle think that as well, they wouldn't have picked me if they didn't think I could make the next step."
The Dockers pounced on mature-age Swan Districts half-back Tobe Watson, a close friend of Griffin Logue, in the rookie draft and also rewarded Next Generation Academy speedster Jason Carter with a category B rookie spot.
With the draft out of the way, Fremantle will take its time recruiting a new list manager and an announcement isn't expected until late January or early February.
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Bell believed the position has arguably become more important than ever since the introduction of live pick trading at the draft.
"There were some really clever moves done on the night, well-documented clever moves, and the list manager role will become more important, I suppose, if there's live pick trading as far as two years in advance," Bell said.
"Maybe the AFL will bring in trading players who have been selected on the night, who really knows? But it's a very important role."
