Bunbury’s Bailey Rogers, ex-Docker Tobe Watson and Margaret River’s Kade Dittmar all look to mid-season draft

Bunbury-born Sandover Medallist Bailey Rogers has said he is keeping his AFL dream alive ahead of the AFL mid-season draft on June 1. Rogers is one of three South West talents to nominate to join an AFL list, joining ex-Docker Tobe Watson and Margaret River’s Kade Dittmar who also threw their hat in the ring. Speaking exclusively with the South Western Times, Rogers, who was overlooked heading into 2022 despite claiming the WAFL’s highest individual honour last season, said the dream to play AFL football would always be there for him. “I think it will always be a dream, I would love to play at the top level,” Rogers said. “I think every footballer just wants to play at the highest level they can every week.” At 25 years old, Rogers questioned whether an opportunity to take the next step in the game would ever come, but said if it did, he would take it and run with it. “I am happy at Claremont now, but if the opportunity arose to play AFL football I would grab it with two hands and would work awfully hard to never let it go,” he said. “I haven’t had any conversations with any AFL clubs about the mid-season draft, but I would love to. “If it doesn’t come up, I am at an amazing football club in Claremont and I think we can do amazing things this year and really go all the way.” Rogers had an interrupted preseason heading into this season because of an Achilles injury, and then missed Claremont’s round two clash with Subiaco because of COVID. But the midfielder kicked a game-high three goals in the WAFL side’s clash with South Australia earlier this month, and said he was almost back to his best. “I didn’t have the preparation I would have liked to, I probably only did a month of training all up over the five months of preseason, so it wasn’t ideal,” he said. “I am still trying to build a bit of fitness, doing a mini preseason whilst still trying to play on Saturdays. “COVID definitely didn’t help, but my top fitness isn’t too far away I don’t think.” Donnybrook’s Watson has been a consistent performer for Swan Districts this year having returned to Bassendean Oval after being delisted by Fremantle at the end of last season. The former Docker is averaging 21.4 touches for the year, with an 18 disposals against Claremont being his only game under 20 possessions. Meanwhile, Margaret River’s Dittmar has been in and out of East Perth’s league side for 2022, playing three senior games and two reserves matches to start the year. The inside-midfielder was unlucky to not be picked up in the 2021 AFL Draft, and trained with West Coast during preseason when two spots remained on their list, but was ultimately overlooked.