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A TALL defender is on Fremantle's radar at Thursday night's NAB AFL Draft but the Dockers are still keeping their options open, according to the club's list manager Brad Lloyd.
The Dockers held a final draft meeting on Tuesday morning at Fremantle Oval involving Lloyd, senior coach Ross Lyon, chief executive Steve Rosich and football operations manager Chris Bond.
Lloyd said using the club’s first-round pick (13) to select a key defender was discussed, but added it was dangerous to commit this far out given the unpredictability of this year's draft.
"Look, it's on the agenda," Lloyd said.
"You've just got to, from a list management point of view, be careful. There's always a discussion of best available and then list needs.
"There's some good talls around the mark at pick 13, potentially, and there's also some good midfielders as well.
"It's really just the way it falls now. So we're not going to go too far out of our way to try and manufacture something for a tall."
Lloyd said there were four or five players the Dockers were hoping to snare at pick 13. Peter Wright, Sam Durdin, Jake Lever and Hugh Goddard would be high on Fremantle's wish list although all could be taken before pick 13.
The Dockers have prepared extensively for this draft given they have picks 13, 34, 54 and 72. Lloyd revealed the club had made more than 80 home visits to the families of potential draftees.
Freo did not select a West Australian in last year's national draft but Lloyd confirmed a number of locals were on the club's radar this year including Swan Districts midfielder Connor Blakely.
"We've watched him closely," Lloyd said.
"We're really impressed with his contribution at league (WAFL) level. It's good to see him play senior football. You don't often get that in some of the other states, Victoria in particular. He's done a good job at that level and it gives him a good chance to get drafted."
The Dockers are also interested in Perth small defender/midfielder Clem Smith.
"We've interviewed Clem, followed him closely through the AIS, been to his house, sort of caught up with family members and so forth," Lloyd said.
"We've been watching him closely, Clem. He's a really competitive midfield type.
"There's interest there, but as everyone knows there's no guarantee for us and for the players, so Clem will have to wait until Thursday night."
Lloyd confirmed the club was disappointed not to secure ex-Demon James Frawley as a free agent.
"It was going to be a real challenge for him to leave Victoria and come over to WA," Lloyd said.
"The tyranny of distance there was a little bit strong. So he chose Hawthorn in the end. If he was available we thought he would have been a good addition as a free agent but then again pick 13, we go to the draft with that and try and get something quality."
