Just on Draper :-
Second-year defender Josh Draper and
captain Alex Pearce look set to be given roles on Carlton spearheads Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay in what looms as a game-defining battle between offence and defence.
The dual Coleman medallists loom large after combining for nine goals against North Melbourne last week.
But the Dockers appear likely to back in their defensive duo, freeing up Luke Ryan to continue intercepting.
In 10 minutes of 18 vs. 18 match simulation to round out Wednesday’s main training, Fremantle’s structure indicated that Pearce will sit on the deepest of the pair, which has typically been McKay. Ruckman Max Knobel was Pearce’s opponent at training.
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is confident that Draper has what it takes to play on one of the Blues’ big men in what will mark just his third AFL game.
“He (Draper) is in the team to be a key back, and their job is to play on key forwards,” Longmuir said. “We haven’t settled on match-ups or structure or anything yet. But there’s going to be a lot of things we do right up the field that help Pearcey and Drapes and Luke.”