In big news for the Dockers, West Perth spearhead Tyler Keitel will train with the club in the
lead-up to the conclusion of the Supplementary Selection Period next week.
Keitel was a stalwart of the West Perth side that made it to the semi-final of the WAFL last
season, booting an impressive 70 goals in the space of 19 appearances for his club.
With both Perth sides in the AFL looking for a key forward, the 26-year-old has been courted by both the Eagles and Dockers ahead of the launch of season 2022.
After already training for two weeks with Adam Simpson's West Coast side and playing in
their unofficial practice match against the Dockers on Friday, Keitel is set to spend a week at Cockburn with Fremantle.
The retirement of Luke Valente has meant that a space has opened up on the Dockers list that can be filled prior to the Supplementary Selection Period cut-off on March 9.
Keitel is not the only WAFL standout who is training with Justin Longmuir's side in the
the leadup to the start of the season, with a host of players also aiming to poach the prized final list spot.
Key tall Blake Schlensog, midfielder Bailey Rogers, Peel Thunder’s Lachie Cullen and big
man Luke Polson are all currently hitting the track with the Dockers in an effort to kickstart
their own AFL careers.
It’s no secret that the Dockers need another key forward to partner with existing spearhead
Matt Taberner inside attacking 50 and aimed to address that in the 2021 national draft.
West Australian Jye Amiss was plucked at Pick 8 and is arguably the best key forward
prospect from last year’s proceedings, however, may need some time before he can enter the side’s best 22.
With Keitel’s experience in the WAFL, there is every chance that he is the man that the
Dockers try to poach to fill their last list spot and pair with Taberner down in attack.
The Dockers looked red hot against crosstown rivals West Coast in their unofficial practice
match last Friday, putting the undermanned Eagles to the sword by running out 97-point
winners in a match that very well might’ve been a taste of what is to come for Fremantle.
Their AAMI Community Series match comes in the form of a repeat of their unofficial
practice match against the Eagles before season 2022 kicks off on March 20 against the
Crows in Adelaide.