Bunbury's Blakely's purple patch pick

Connor Blakely will have to get used to wearing purple, after the former Bunbury Football Club midfielder was picked up by the Fremantle Dockers in Thursday’s AFL Draft.

The 18-year-old was the Dockers’ second selection (at pick 34) after being recruited from WAFL club Swan Districts where he played 14 league games this season.

Blakely is the son of former East Perth footballer and 1989 Hayward Medal winner Mark Blakely, who is a household name among South West Football League fans after stints with Boyanup-Capel-Dardanup and Bunbury.

The 189cm midfielder was put through his paces yesterday at his first official training session with the club, as he joined fellow draftees Lachie Weller, Ed Langdon and Josh Deluca.

Blakely told The West Australian last week he knew Fremantle were interested, but there were no guarantees.

“Clubs play their cards pretty close to their chest, so I wasn’t sure Freo or any other club would take a punt on me,” he said.

“I was sweating on it a bit but when Freo called my name out it was a massive relief.”

Father Mark Blakely said he and his wife Dana were proud of Connor for his efforts.

“Playing league football at Swan Districts was obviously a massive help and (coach) Greg Harding has been instrumental in that, ” he said.

“It’s a great thing for the Bunbury Football Club and it’s good for the whole South West region.”

Fremantle general manager of player management Brad Lloyd told the Dockers’ website Blakely had the ability to impact quickly in the AFL.

“He’s a good stoppage clearance player so we feel that he can come in there and add to our big midfielders,” he said.

Fellow South West draft hopeful Ethan Hughes will have his fate decided tomorrow when he waits to see if he will be picked up by an AFL club in this year’s AFL Pre-Season and Rookie Draft.

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