Talent expert likens Pickett to Long, Matera

JACOB Dragovich, Matthew Ah Siu, Jarrod Pickett, Bill Frampton, Kade Stewart and Brad McPhail have all made at least one appearance in the WA team in the current NAB U18 Championships for 2014.

While the results haven’t gone the way WA would have hoped in losses to South Australia, Vic Metro and South Australia again so far to open the National 18s Championships, the six South Fremantle players have all acquitted themselves well.

And with South Fremantle's colts having won premierships in 2011 and 2012, and then again making the grand final in 2013, it's no surprise to continue to see the club's development programs continue to churn out talent that is shining on the national stage.

WA's championships started against South Australia at AAMI Stadium in Adelaide on May 24 with the Croweaters winning 14.8 (92) to 8.13 (61).

Vic Metro then thrashed WA 15.20 (110) to 2.11 (23) at Leederville's Medibank Stadium on June 1 before South Australia won 10.11 (71) to 9.12 (66) in a thriller again at Medibank Stadium last Saturday.

While Dragovich, Ah Siu, Frampton, Stewart and McPhail have all shown good signs, it is Pickett who has been the standout performer not only from the South Fremantle players in the WA squad, but from all of the Sandgropers team.

Pickett's campaign to date began with him collecting 15 possessions against South Australia before gathering 14 disposals and laying four tackles in the big loss to Vic Metro, but it was against South Australia last Saturday when he really made his mark.

The 17-year-old from Jandakot played an incredible match finishing with 22 possessions, seven inside-50 entries, five clearances and three goals.

AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheehan, who has cast his eye over all of the young talent for a long time, has been tremendously impressed with what Pickett has shown and likens him to some fellow former Indigenous legends of AFL football.

"He had some great withering runs and he took them, and it really was exciting. I thought he was best on ground and it was a breakout performance by Pickett," Sheehan told www.afl.com.au.

"He gathered the ball 21 times, he had six clearances, seven inside 50s and kicked three goals in what was an electrifying display. Sometimes people rise to the next level and dominate and he's done that to my belief.

"He's got some traits that I liken to Michael Long or a Peter Matera. He is showing very special stuff and can do it through the midfield. When we say pace, he is in the top couple of per cent for speed over 20 metres and we saw that in the way he used it on the weekend."

Dragovich worked hard in WA's heavy loss to Vic Metro finishing the game with 16 possessions and five tackles, and then last Saturday against South Australia he had 14 possessions, six of which were contested, and he laid an outstanding nine tackles.

Ah Siu put in a strong showing in the opening game against South Australia with 17 possessions and six marks, and then against Vic Metro he had 14 touches and six marks.

Frampton provided a good target in attack in the opening game against the Croweaters with a goal from his six possessions and two marks, and then he found a bit more of the ball against Vic Metro with 11 touches and four marks.

Frampton then also played last Saturday against South Australia where he had nine possessions, three marks, four tackles, two clearances and two inside-50 entries.

Stewart, the younger brother of Tim who was a key player in South Fremantle's colts team of last year and now is in the reserves pushing for a league debut, lined up against Vic Metro and worked hard finishing with 11 possessions, three of which were contested, four marks and three tackles.

Stewart was then outstanding last Saturday against South Australia with 19 possessions, eight tackles, six clearances, three inside-50 entries and a goal.

McPhail made his first appearance for WA last Saturday against South Australia and had 10 possessions and took four marks in an encouraging performance.

WA's campaign now continues this Sunday at Fremantle Oval against Vic Metro with bounce down at 11am.