Toast Welcome to Freo Michael Frederick – Fremantle’s 4th 2019 National Draft Pick [Pick #61]

Oct 30, 2007
11,873
13,601
Adelaide
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
West End Redbacks, Cleveland Browns
Minairo (Michael) Frederick - 180cm, 65kg mid/forward from Woodville West Torrens

Michael Frederick, the twin brother of Port Adelaide Cat B rookie Martin, really entered the draft conversation late in the season - but began to firm as a late/rookie pick the closer the draft got.

He played as an overager in the SANFL U18s this year, and improved a lot as the season went on. A lot of that is the fact that he's grown, he was closer to the 170cm mark last year and had no size to him at all. As such he struggled to impact games, as opposed to his brother Martin who featured for SA at the Championships. Just to highlight how far he came with that extra year under his belt...

2018 - 3 matches, 7 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 1 goal
2019 - 18 matches, 15 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles, 2 goals

He absolutely saved his best games for the finals and was BOG in the Grand Final with 20 disposals and a goal - after 21 touches and 3 goals in the semi. They were both eye catching displays, and a perfect example of just what he can do on a football field - he provides a heap of outside run, has an excellent leap and is a really skilled kick of the ball. And unsurprisingly he got a late call up to the state combine as a result of that game - it was reported that Hawthorn and Port Adelaide were keen on him, so would have been the other two teams that nominated him. Coincidence that we traded up immediately before Port's pick? His 20m sprint of 2.94 seconds would have been good enough for 5th at the national combine, and his YoYo was more than respectable.

His brother Martin was more of a running half back last year for SA, whereas Michael has been playing more as an outside mid/half forward. Run and skills is exactly what you're getting with Michael, in those two areas he's probably as good as anyone and he has huge amounts of potential. It's best to really consider this as his first proper season of football, even though he is a 19 year old. I think he's shown more than the two NGA players available to us in the rookie draft.

But he is obviously a smokey, and he's still pretty slight. There's no guarantees about how he'll handle the step up in competition. I expect he'll probably play in the reserves for Peel for much of the start of next season, and hopefully we'll start to see what he have in the back half of the year.
 
Sep 30, 2005
53,070
47,974
Perth
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
Freo and Bulldogs, ManU
Checkout Freo's highlights package - at 61 the kid was a friggin' STEAL!!! Six and a half minutes of magic...

How the hell can this kid kick that good at speed???


sweet mother of god
 

CapitalA

Club Legend
Nov 18, 2017
2,947
4,702
AFL Club
Fremantle
Why the f%^k would we have to trade up to get this and then pass on 64?
I am guessing so we could match any bids on Butters and Thomas. Also someone was saying it was ports pick next who have his twin brother and were likely to pick him.
 
Last edited:
Oct 21, 2015
1,063
2,172
AFL Club
Fremantle
Yeah baby....Right boot or left boot straight through the hey diddle diddle. Run down tackles from behind and super slippery in traffic. Plenty of pace and lovely kicking style. Never heard of ya but glad I have now. Five more kg and we will be saying...who cares we missed Stevens.
 

yakka man

Brownlow Medallist
Aug 27, 2010
25,041
16,013
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
Peel Thunder
Blistering speed, can mark, tackle, kick beautiful off both feet

what’s the knock? Too skinny?

Frederick rated elite for ranking points, disposals, uncontested possessions, goals and score involvements at SANFL U18 level, showcasing his freakish evasiveness and ability to deliver off both feet in his 18 Under 18 and two Reserves games.

Can't see too many knocks. Maybe just fitness and the fact that he started the year slowly, and is an overage player in the under 18s. More than happy to take a gamble on a player like him.
 

Alfonz

Norm Smith Medallist
Aug 23, 2005
8,360
11,446
AFL Club
Fremantle
Love this pick. Like late bloomers and GF performers as well.

Why wasn't he part of Port's NGA like his brother?
 
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