Trainees join Fremantle on the track.
Invitations have been accepted, with only two spots remaining on Fremantle’s list.
Three train-on players have arrived in pre-season, hoping to fill the two remaining spots on Fremantle’s roster.
The AFL approved Sebit Kuek (knee and shoulder) and Josh Corbett (hip) to be placed on the Club’s long-term injury list while they recover from surgery earlier this week, freeing up two spots.
Sam van Rooyen (Claremont), Patrick Voss (Essendon), and Max Beattie (Woodville-West Torrens) were quick to join the action at Fremantle Oval during a mid-week session.
Van Rooyen, the 193cm younger brother of Melbourne key forward Jacob, was passed over in the AFL National Draft despite scoring 22 goals in 14 games for Claremont’s premiership-winning Colts.
194cm tall twenty-year-old Voss is a former Essendon rookie who won the Bombers VFL 2023 best and fairest award after scoring 30 goals in 17 games.
Beattie, 20, is a small forward who transferred from the Murray Bushrangers to the SANFL in pursuit of his AFL dream.
On February 15, the Supplemental Selection Period will come to an end.
List spots can also be held open for the mid-season draft in 2024.
READ MORD
The Coaching Department is fully operational.
The appointment of a new Development Coach has confirmed Fremantle’s AFL coaching staff for season 2024.
The appointment of Andrew Sturgess as a Development Coach confirms Fremantle’s AFL coaching staff for season 2024.
Sturgess is a highly qualified coach from Victoria who has most recently worked in talent development with the Calder Cannons in the Coates Talent League and Vic Metro’s U18 and U16 talent squads. He was previously the Senior Coach at Coburg in the VFL.
“Following a thorough process, we are really excited to welcome Andrew Sturgess to the Freo family,” said Joe Brierty, Executive General Manager of Football.
“He’s a people-oriented individual who is driven to get the most out of players in order for them to reach their full potential.” He has a strong growth mindset and will be an important member of our coaching staff.”
Sturgess will move to Perth before Christmas (with his family joining him in the new year) to take over for Adam Read, who was named Senior Coach of Peel Thunder (Fremantle’s WAFL aligned Club) earlier this month.
The men’s coaching staff is led by Justin Longmuir, with assistants Matthew Boyd (defense), Joel Corey (midfield), and Jaymie Graham (forwards).
Tendai Mzungu and Brady Grey will continue to work closely with Sturgess as Development Coaches. For 2024, the coaching staff is completed by Harry Garland (stoppages and opposition coach) and Bob Murphy (skills specialist and Head of Leadership).
“With the appointment of Andrew, we’ve now been able to formalise the structure of our coaching department for 2024,” Mr. Brierty said.
“With Justin (Longmuir) leading our panel, we are very confident that all coaches will deliver the necessary game plan and strategy – as well as create an environment in which our players feel inspired to perform at their best.”
“This is a coaching group with a lot of experience, and I’m excited to see them work closely with our players to deliver the success that our Club is looking for.”
“We are excited to welcome Andrew, his wife Bianca, and their two sons, Leo and Archer, to the Freo family next month.”
