AFL clubs are reportedly monitoring mature-aged East Fremantle ruckman Lachlan Blakiston ahead of this year's draft period amid the 204cm talents break campaign with the Sharks.
Blakiston has slotted into the top ruck role at East Fremantle since Round 9 of the WAFL season in the wake of Brynn Teakle's departure, with the former Port Adelaide tall earning a second chance at AFL level with North Melbourne through May's Mid-Season Draft.
The 25-year-old has tallied 10 games at senior level this year, averaging 16.1 disposals, 34.4 hitouts and 3.4 tackles per game in the Sharks' premiership defence.
That spell includes a 61-hitout outing against West Perth in a come-from-behind victory for East Fremantle, which was Blakiston's second game after Teakle's mid-year departure.
The commanding Sharks ruckman recorded 57 hitouts the weekend after against Subiaco and has since been a promising force for East Fremantle as they sit in fourth on the ladder currently on a five-game win streak.
According toย The West Australian,ย at least two unnamed AFL clubs are keeping tabs on Blakiston ahead of November's National and Rookie Drafts.
Any venture to the AFL would be a tremendous rise for Blakiston, who spent a majority of the first half of this year at the WAFL reserves level. The Sharks ruckman took home the club's reserves best and fairest last year - his first season at the club since switching from South Fremantle.
Geelong recruited Swan Districts flanker Lawson Humphries through last year's National Draft with Pick 63 after a year spent between the reserves and league levels in the WAFL.
Teakle has proven to be a shrewd pickup for the Kangaroos after his stellar return to the WAFL earned him a fresh opportunity at the elite level, while North Melbourne teammate Hamish Free has been a large force for the club's VFL side since being recruited to the club out of South Fremantle through the 2022 Rookie Draft.
