I apologise for my poor planning and the subsequent premature elaboration of whats in store of our list before we'd even finalised it.
Obviously I should have waited until after the rookie draft and spared you both an appendix. In reality I wasn't really going to bother with the rookies but I think the class of '08 we just collected is worthy of some time in the sun.
#? Clancee Pearce. In January is convinced by his new fiance with the flashy purple ute to change his name to Mike. Clancee Mike then has a very solid year in the WAFL and finishes 7th in the Sandover. Is best afield in the Swans losing Prelim Final game against eventual premiers East Fremantle.
#? Hamish Shephard. East Perth do this kid no favours by continually playing him up forward despite FFC's requests to play him in defence. He wins a place in the Royals top team from week 6 of the season and transfers to Perth at the end of the year.
#? Jay van Berlo. Goes back to back in the West Perth Club Champion award. Has a fast food named after him at Arena Joondie shop in honour of the feat. The Jay van Burger is all meat. Burger plays 3 games for Freo towards the end of the year.
#? Matt deBoer. His kicking issues are evident from the get-go and this prevents him from any AFL game time early on. However, he works hard with the skills experts and improves markedly throughout the year. He emphasises this fact by aiming a kick at, and then hitting Lachie Reid in the back of his head from 35m and knocking him out during his Tuesday live cross with Haze. Wins Claremonts B&F and is presented with a Community Service Award by Rotary for his work on Lachie Reid.
#? Casey Sibosado. Is the inspiration for the second wave of aussie rules position renaming by some ABC commentators as he is referred too as a Large Indigenous Forward during WAFL broadcasts. Ken Judge pulls a head muscle trying to pronounce his name during week 3's radio broadcast. Kim Hagdorn has to look up how to spell his name 243 times during April. Glen Mitchell just calls him Dion Woods. LIF finishes 3rd in the WAFL goal kickers and takes the WAFL Mark of the Year.
#? Greg Broughton. Plays the most number of games (8) out of any AFL rookie listed player. GB wins a RS nomination in Rd 13 with a 13 possession game in the win against Collingwood at the MCG where he keeps Didak to 5 possies and no goals. Along with JvB is elevated at the end of the season.
Of this group, only Hamish Shephard does not get time on the senior list. JvB, Broughton and Mike all become regular players in the 2010 senior side. LIF and Matt deBoer are elevated at the end of 2010 with Sibo winning a RS nomination in 2011, finishing 3rd overall.
Casey Sibosado will be heavily recruited by GC17 at the end of season 2010 before signing a 3 year deal to stay at Fremantle.