Margaret River’s Kade Dittmar begins training with the West Coast Eagles after being overlooked in AFL draft

The South West product who was one of the unluckiest WA kids not to get picked up in last month’s AFL draft could still find himself on an AFL list after he began training with the West Coast Eagles on Tuesday. Margaret River’s Kade Dittmar was invited to train with the Eagles squad under pre-season supplemental selection period rules alongside former Fremantle-listed ruckman Luke Strnadica. The Eagles have at least one spot to fill after the AFL draft and rookie draft and the retirement of Brad Sheppard — who received medical advice to not continue his career after concussion symptoms lingered following repeated head knocks — has opened a second spot. The 18-year-old Dittmar was invited to the draft combine earlier this year after playing under-19s for WA and averaging 18 disposals, five tackles and a goal per game at WAFL colts level at East Perth, before making his league debut in round 19. The Margaret River product capped off his State junior season with 19 disposals, seven clearances, seven tackles and a goal in the final match against South Australia. Dittmar admits there’s a point to prove to AFL clubs that he is worthy of a spot. “It means a lot to get a train-on opportunity at West Coast, I’m really grateful,” Dittmar told The West Australian. “It was pretty shattering to not hear my name called out, especially after the rookie draft on the final day, I had a down couple of days but got back to training straight after. “I got the call from West Coast not long after that telling me there was a potential train-on opportunity, so my mood definitely changed after that.” Remarkably, injuries have prevented Dittmar from getting a full pre-season in since 2018 and he missed nearly two full seasons, or 574 days, because of stress fractures in his lower back, which he said gave him low expectations heading in to 2021. “At the start of the year I wasn’t expecting too much, I just wanted to enjoy footy again and see where it went,” Dittmar said. “But as the year went on I had more expectation of myself and it didn’t come through in the draft but I’m hoping to prove a point.” Dittmar models his game on Eagles midfield bull Elliot Yeo and said he hoped to learn from the star at Mineral Resources Park. “It will be a great opportunity, plus Elliot Yeo had an injury-interrupted season this year so it would be good to learn from him about on-field and off-field stuff and how he’s overcome those injuries,” he said. Dittmar and Strnadica are among eight players across the competition officially invited to train with clubs ahead of the supplemental selection period and more are expected to be added in the coming weeks. The Eagles have the ability to sign a player during the pre-season supplemental selection period from January 10 to March 9, or to keep a rookie list spot open until the mid-season rookie draft on June 1.