AFL Draft: Date with destiny for South West’s young talent as region shapes for bumper draft haul

The South West’s most talented junior footballers are less than a week away from finding out whether there is a spot on an AFL list for them next season. And the region looks set for its highest draft pick in more than a decade, with East Perth goal-kicker and Busselton product Jye Amiss looming as a potential top 10 selection. The forward, who kicked a remarkably accurate 51.15 in the WAFL colts for the Royals, is a chance to stay in WA, with Fremantle likely to chase a key marking target with their first pick. Two of his East Perth teammates — fellow Busselton Magpie James Tunstill and Margaret River’s Kade Dittmar — are also a chance to be selected. Tunstill became one of the WAFL colts’ best disposal accumulators this season, averaging more than 21 disposals a game and sneaking forward for six goals. READ THE WEST’S DRAFT PROFILE FOR EVERY WEST AUSSIE HOPEFUL Dittmar, a prolific contested ball winner, impressed as a leader in the midfield for the State Under 19s across three games against South Australia and a dominant performance in a trial game against their under 17s counterparts. Clever midfield-forward Brady Hough, who was playing full-time league football for Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault as recently as last season, has also received interest from a number of clubs, including the West Coast Eagles, who visited his family home earlier this year. Hough impressed in his debut season for Peel Thunder, graduating from the colts to make his league debut in the final game of the WAFL season after averaging more than 22 disposals and kicking nearly a goal a game. He finished among the best for the Thunder on debut, collecting 22 disposals and a maiden goal. Rhett Bazzo, son of the late Bunbury football legend Steve Bazzo and Swan Districts colts premiership defender, is also likely to be taken at the back-end of the draft. In a mock draft completed by NewsCorp journalists this week, Amiss was selected with Fremantle’s first pick, which slides from six to eight once academy and father-son selections are made. Hough was the next highest South West product, taken with Richmond’s pick 48, while Tunstill went to Sydney with pick 57 in the simulation, and Dittmar was left on the board. The first round of the draft will be called out on Wednesday November 24, before clubs make their second, third and fourth round selections the following day.