Sport
Shepparton’s Will Brodie signs contract extension at Fremantle as district stars return to action
The career revival of Shepparton AFL product Will Brodie added yet another exciting chapter on Tuesday, as the midfielder signed a three-year contract extension with Fremantle.
After an indifferent first five seasons at Gold Coast that yielded just 25 games, Brodie was traded west prior to last season in a bid to recapture the talent that had him drafted with pick nine in the 2016 national draft.
The change of environment paid immediate dividends for the 24-year-old Bears product, who, after an impressive pre-season, thrived with increased opportunities in the Dockers’ midfield.
Playing in all 24 of Fremantle’s matches — Brodie averaged a career high 26.8 disposals and 5.7 clearances a game, as he transformed himself into one of the competition’s most prolific inside midfielders.
Now seen as one of the key cogs driving this young Dockers side up the ladder, the club did not hesitate to reward him for his brilliant form and handed him a fresh three-year deal.
Brodie said he was thrilled to come to terms with the club and continue his AFL journey in purple.
I’m really happy to be locked in and to get settled in WA,” Brodie said.
“I’m grateful that Freo believed in me and backed me in and I look forward to returning that faith in the best way I can.”
The Shepparton-born midfielder began the 2023 season similarly to the way he left off in 2022, as he recorded an impressive 20 disposals, six tackles and five clearances in the Dockers’ opening round loss to St Kilda.
But he was part of a midfield group that was dominated by the Saints and said he and his on-ball compatriots were determined to bounce back quickly.
“As a midfield unit we were disappointed,” he said.
“We feel like we’ve made some really big gains over the off-season and pre-season and we know we can produce a lot better than that.
“We’ll address it, review it and get better from here.”
Elsewhere, Shepparton Swans product Josh Rachele began his sophomore season in style, booting three goals and recording 18 disposals to be one of Adelaide’s best in its tight loss to Greater Western Sydney.
Invergordon’s Lachie Ash was one of the standouts for the Giants in the come-from-behind win, registering 21 disposals at an impressive 76 per cent efficiency.
Clayton Oliver showed his class through the midfield for Melbourne as it recorded a dominant 50-point win over Western Bulldogs.
The Mooroopna product was in everything for the Demons and finished with an equal match-high 33 disposals, eight clearances and seven tackles.
An eye-catching performance by Yarroweyah’s Esava Ratugolea served as a bright spot on an otherwise disappointing night for Geelong as it fell to Collingwood by 22 points.
Taking on a new role in the Cats’ defence, Ratugolea was one of his team’s best on the night and received six coaches votes for his six disposals and four marks.
Mooroopna’s Jy Simpkin enjoyed a victorious start to his tenure as North Melbourne captain, as the Kangaroos downed West Coast by five points in a Saturday afternoon thriller at Marvel Stadium.
One of North’s key contributors on the day, Simpkin finished with 25 disposals, seven clearances and five tackles to cap a perfect start to his time in the top job at Arden Street.