SW duo have AFL draft chances

Two South West footballers have given themselves a chance to be drafted by an AFL club at the end of the year, after being selected in the 2018 under-18 WA State Academy.

Jarrad Fazioli (Eaton Boomers) and Damon Greaves (Busselton) were last week picked in the 38-player squad, where they will participate in the State program over the next two months in preparation for the AFL National Championships.

Jarrad was part of the program last year and represented WA at the championships, catching the eye of coach and West Coast Eagles legend Peter Sumich after a four-goal haul against Victoria Country at Etihad Stadium.

The duo play for their respective WAFL club’s colts teams, with Jarrod averaging 15 disposals and a goal for Peel Thunder, while Damon averages 21 touches for East Perth.

West Australian Football Commission State talent manager Adam Jones said he was impressed with the South West pair over the past two years.

“The championships stage is where AFL recruiters focus much of their attention,” he said.

“If you can play well against the best, it puts you in a strong position come draft time.

“We do have a selection criteria which makes us need to pick talent that can transition to AFL as well as senior WAFL football.

“Both those boys we believe have the potential to transition to those levels.”

Jones said Jarrad’s strength was his speed and endurance, as well as his versatility.

“He can play in a variety of positions,” he said.

“We had Jarrad play on the wing, on the ball and as a small forward.”

Jones described Damon as an “honest” player.

“He does a great job defensively, but he has also developed his attacking game coming off half back,” he said.

“Damon has nice skills and good decision making abilities. He is developing a nice, all-round game.”

Meanwhile, eight players from the South West Football League have been picked to be part of the under-16 WA State Academy. Eaton Boomers’ Roy George and Isiah Winder, South Bunbury’s Lewis Evans-Thomson, Ty Sears and Chad Montgomerie, Busselton’s Jaylen Colegate and Jack Kennedy, as well as Donnybrook’s Zac Trigwell were all chosen to be part of the 47-player squad.

Jones said the country footballers were impressing State selectors.

“If you look into the 16s, 24 of the 47 (players) are regional kids,” he said.

“It is a credit to the development in the regions.”