The winning formula: How to get drafted as a footy superstar

For nearly 30 years, David Walls has helped Fremantle’s player recruitment team identify future AFL talent, relying on far more than match-day highlights. Walls says recruiters build a complete picture by observing players at games, reviewing extensive video, and analyzing psychological and physical tests and statistics. He adds that a visit to a player’s family home can reveal character and credibility—“you can’t bullshit in front of Mum or Dad.” Drafting is described as make-or-break for careers and for the scouts themselves, with Fremantle and other clubs selecting only a small number of teenage picks each year. The annual men’s draft is held in November and the women’s in December.