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Josh Draper

Josh Draper
Personal information
Full name Joshua Draper
Date of birth (2004-02-08) 8 February 2004 (age 20)
Original team(s) 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(s) Key Defender
Club information
Current club Fremantle
Number 37
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2023– Fremantle 20 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 24, 2024.
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

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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]

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 of the 2024 AFL season in a game 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 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 per cent efficiency during Western Derby 59.[7] He signed a two-year contract extension on August 12th to remain at Fremantle until at least the end of 2027.[8]

Statistics

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AFL Statistics

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Updated to the end of the 2024 season[9]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2023 Fremantle 37 0 – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
2024 Fremantle 37 20 0 0 104 95 199 80 17 0.0 0.0 5.2 4.8 10.0 4.0 0.9
Career 20 0 0 104 95 199 80 17 0.0 0.0 5.2 4.8 10.0 4.0 0.9

WAFL Statistics

[edit]

Updated to the end of round 7, 2024[10]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2023 Peel Thunder 61 11 0 0 55 44 99 36 15 0.0 0.0 5.0 4.0 9.0 3.3 1.4
Career 11 0 0 55 44 99 36 15 0.0 0.0 5.0 4.0 9.0 3.3 1.4

References

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  1. ^ WAFC. "AFL DRAFT GURU RATES LEADING WA CONTENDERS - TALL DEFENDERS". West Australian Football League. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Joshua Draper profile, video of WAFL match". thewest.com.au. 4 November 2022.
  3. ^ "Freo defender set for hammy surgery, facing three month sideline stint". afl.com.au. 18 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Josh Draper to debut!". fremantlefc.com.au. 21 March 2024.
  5. ^ "AFL Live Scores, Fixtures, Results, News". afl.com.au. 23 March 2024.
  6. ^ Barrett, Jackson (30 June 2024). "Fremantle Dockers defender Josh Draper's heroics against Sydney Swans likely to earn Rising Star nomination". The West Australian.
  7. ^ "Draper a Rising Star!". fremantlefc.
  8. ^ Kirby, Aaron (12 August 2024). "Fremantle Dockers elevate rookie defender Josh Draper with two-year deal". The West Australian.
  9. ^ "Josh Draper". AFL Tables.
  10. ^ "Joshua Draper". West Australian Football League. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
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