Fremantle football boss Joe Brierty backs tall defender Josh Draper to take on AFL’s top small forwards

Fremantle football boss Joe Brierty has backed rising star Josh Draper’s versatility to play as a small defender as the talented Docker looks to build on a breakout 2024. Draper played 20 games last year after making his debut in round two after injuries to key defenders Alex Pearce, Oscar McDonald and Brennan Cox opened the door for him to establish himself at the top level. The Rockingham product was rewarded with a two-year contract extension in August, which has him docked at the harbour club until the end of 2027. He also earned a Rising Star nomination in round 20 after a strong performance in the western derby. Draper faces a selection squeeze though as the fight for spots down back intensifies. Captain Pearce is fit after breaking his arm twice last year, which arguably cost him his first All-Australian berth. Cox and McDonald were also impacted by hamstring and knee injuries respectively in 2024, but are set to play pivotal roles in Fremantle’s push for a return to finals. It leaves the talented Draper down the pecking order despite a strong start to his career. Brierty has backed the 197cm Next Generation Academy to shift roles and play on some of the competition’s premier small forwards as a way to play alongside Pearce and Cox. “Obviously last year the progression that he made and big steps that he took came playing as a key defender but Josh is a pretty impressive athlete as well so he has the potential to take some small forwards and some of those more agile players just with his speed and his agility,” Brierty told The West Australian. “I’m looking forward to him coming and progressing. He’s obviously in the initial phase vying for the key defender roles but he’s building that flexibility into his own game where he has the potential to take on some of those more agile small forwards. “Whether we go into a game with three of those key defenders and one of them takes a small forward or hybrid is an opportunity for us. You look at how that might adjust Luke Ryan’s role and Oscar McDonald is back and having a strong pre-season as well. “There’s going to be different times throughout the year when we’re going to be relying on players to come in and play a role for us so it’s pleasing to have the players that we know can definitely cope at the level and play at the standard that the team requires.” Fremantle will return to training later this week ahead of their first pre-season game against the Indigenous All-Stars at Optus Stadium on February 15.