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Blakely poised for Dockers opener

Blakely poised for Dockers opener

Draftee Connor Blakely has been rewarded for an outstanding summer by being named in Fremantle's 29-man squad for their opening NAB Challenge match against Melbourne at Fremantle Oval tomorrow.

The Dockers named a strong team for the clash, with captain Matthew Pavlich and fellow veteran Luke McPharlin both set to play, alongside stars Michael Johnson, Stephen Hill, David Mundy, Michael Barlow, Hayden Ballantyne and Michael Walters.

AFL Players' Association MVP Nat Fyfe, Aaron Sandilands, Ryan Crowley, Danyle Pearce, Zac Dawson and Garrick Ibbotson will be absent.

Fyfe trained strongly with the main group yesterday on his return from a hamstring strain, but was pulled out to run laps late in the session, while Sandilands, Pearce and Ibbotson completed running programs away from their teammates.

Sandilands played the first intra-club match on February 21 and Pearce lined up for the Indigenous All-Stars (February 20) but both were rested from last Friday's second intra-club game.

Crowley, who trained fully yesterday, has not yet had a competitive hit-out. Neither has Ibbotson, who is returning from shoulder surgery. Dawson (groin) is unlikely to be fit for round one.

Blakely turned 19 on Monday and had more reason for celebration yesterday when he was the only 2014 draftee named in the Dockers' extended team, which will be cut to 26 before the game.

Blakely's coach at Swan Districts, Greg Harding, was impressed that he had built up the strength to compete with his AFL teammates so quickly.

He said Blakely's ball-winning ability made him special.

"His ability last year to win contested ball against seasoned WAFL midfields was really impressive," Harding said.

"He's just one of those players that just maintains a really high level of energy in games, even as a kid, which is rare.

"He has always had a real thirst for knowledge.

"In the AFL when you have got so many people around you helping you with your game, he was always going to be a kid that jumped forward pretty quickly."

Harding backed Blakely, who was taken with pick 34 in the national draft, to step up to the pace if he gets opportunities.

"His biggest strength is that speed of movement and his ability to win contested ball, and not only win it, but extract out of those situations with his disposal or with real energy to get himself out with his foot speed," Harding said.

The Dockers are likely to try out a tall forward line with Matt Taberner and Michael Apeness to play alongside Pavlich.

Second-year player Brady Grey - who shone as a defensive midfielder for Peel Thunder last season - was also named.


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