I’m not good enough for Dockers yet: Blakely
Exciting draftee Connor Blakely says he is not impatient to make his AFL debut and understands he is simply not good enough to push his way into an undefeated Fremantle side at this stage of the season.
Blakely will play a key role in Peel’s bid to cement their place in the top five with a victory over an in-form Claremont at the Showground tomorrow.
The Tigers have won three games in a row after losing their opening five matches of 2015.
The Thunder have been aided by the Dockers avoiding a long injury list and could be boosted against the Tigers with the inclusion of hard nut Matt de Boer and defenders Alex Pearce and Zac Dawson, who is yet to play a game this year because of a groin injury.
Blakely, the Dockers’ second pick in last year’s national draft, was outstanding in his first pre-season at the club and has been a consistent performer for Peel.
The 19-year-old has twice been an emergency for Fremantle and has earned praise from coach Ross Lyon. Blakely has averaged more than 25 disposals in six WAFL games this year but hasn’t been able to earn a berth at the top level.
“It’s such a good team to break into and everyone is doing so well,” he said.
His aim at the moment was to keep playing well for Peel and the match committee would take care of the rest.
“There are guys like Tendai Mzungu who aren’t even in the team yet,” Blakely said.
“I’m not getting a game because I’m not good enough at the moment. I have just got to keep working on my deficiencies and hopefully it will come soon, but I’m not impatient at all. I’m biding my time.”
Blakely starred for Swan Districts last year but believed he had improved significantly after a summer with the Dockers.
“I didn’t really miss a session during the pre-season so I gave myself the best chance,” he said.
“Just being around guys like Dave Mundy and Nat Fyfe, superstars of the game, you learn a lot off them really quickly so for me it’s just learning running patterns and running more efficiently these days because at the AFL it’s another step up.
“Improving my running is something I need to keep doing. Once you come to an AFL club you realise how fit everyone else is.”
The big-bodied midfielder has an embarrassment of riches to learn from at the Dockers.
“Each player has something new to bring to the table,” Blakely said.
“Guys like Dave Mundy and Lachie Neale, who are so good at the contest, you learn physical things off them.
“Then guys like Stephen Hill, you try and learn the spread and things like that off them.
“Everyone in the midfield group has been a mentor for me.
“The best thing about them is they are so approachable and friendly, so there is no hesitation for me to go up to them and ask them things.
“I wouldn’t want to be at any other club.”
