Josh Draper
| Josh Draper | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Draper in April 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Joshua Draper | ||
| Born | 8 February 2004 | ||
| Original team | Peel Thunder | ||
| Draft | Category B rookie signing, 2022 National draft, Fremantle | ||
| Debut | Round 2, 2024, Fremantle vs. North Melbourne, at Marvel Stadium | ||
| Height | 197 cm (6 ft 6 in) | ||
| Position | Key Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Fremantle | ||
| Number | 37 | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2023– | Fremantle | 31 (0) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2026 season. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Joshua Draper is an Australian rules footballer, currently playing for Fremantle in the Australian Football League.
AFL career
[edit]Fremantle (2023–)
[edit]Draper was signed as a Category B Rookie from Fremantle's Next Generation Academy in the 2022 AFL draft. He qualified due to Ethiopian heritage on his mother's side.[1]
2024 season
[edit]He played for the reserve side, Peel Thunder in the WAFL, for his first season at the club.[2] In Round 1 of the 2024 AFL season, Fremantle conceded two injuries to key defenders Brennan Cox and Oscar McDonald.[3] This provided Draper with his opportunity to debut for the senior team in Round 2 against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.[4] On debut, Draper collected 7 disposals in a 26-point win away from home.[5] Due to this solid performance on debut, Draper kept his spot in the team for Fremantle's Round 3 clash with Adelaide in the west. Draper played even better in this match collecting 14 disposals and 4 marks. Josh made the journey east for Fremantle's two-week stint in Adelaide, first facing Carlton in the Gather Round, and Port Adelaide the following week. Perhaps his best game came in Round sixteen against Sydney at the Sydney Cricket Ground. With Fremantle captain and key defender Alex Pearce missing the game due to injury, Draper was tasked with playing on some of the Swans most dangerous forwards and was instrumental in the one-point win. He finished with 14 disposals and a career-high 11 spoils.[6] He received a 2024 AFL Rising Star nomination for his career-high 18-disposal game at 94 percent efficiency during Western Derby 59.[7] He signed a two-year contract extension on August 12, to remain at Fremantle until at least the end of 2027.[8]
References
[edit]- ↑ WAFC. "AFL DRAFT GURU RATES LEADING WA CONTENDERS - TALL DEFENDERS". West Australian Football League. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ↑ "Joshua Draper profile, video of WAFL match". thewest.com.au. 4 November 2022.
- ↑ "Freo defender set for hammy surgery, facing three month sideline stint". afl.com.au. 18 March 2024.
- ↑ "Josh Draper to debut!". fremantlefc.com.au. 21 March 2024.
- ↑ "AFL Live Scores, Fixtures, Results, News". afl.com.au. 23 March 2024.
- ↑ Barrett, Jackson (30 June 2024). "Fremantle Dockers defender Josh Draper's heroics against Sydney Swans likely to earn Rising Star nomination". The West Australian.
- ↑ "Draper a Rising Star!". fremantlefc.
- ↑ Kirby, Aaron (12 August 2024). "Fremantle Dockers elevate rookie defender Josh Draper with two-year deal". The West Australian.
External links
[edit]
- Josh Draper's profile on the official website of the Fremantle Football Club
- Josh Draper's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Josh Draper at AustralianFootball.com
- Josh Draper's WAFL playing statistics at WAFLFootyFacts.net
