Who is Hugh Davies? 19-year-old rising star set to make AFL debut as Fremantle take on Gold Coast on Sunday

Modified Jun 22, 2024 14:41 IST

AFL Rd 14 - Western Bulldogs v Fremantle

Ahead of Sunday’s game against the Gold Coast Suns at Optus Stadium, the Fremantle Dockers have a 26-man extended squad for the game. Rising Star Nominee Hugh Davies would feature in his first AFL game.

The 196cm key defender, who is in his second year at the club in the WAFL, has been named on-field in the Dockers’ extended team and will make his debut in Sunday’s match between Fremantle and Gold Coast at Optus Stadium.

Davies was taken with pick 33 in the National Draft in 2022 and has been a key defender for Peel, featuring in 28 games over his time at the Club, including the 2023 run to the WAFL Grand Finals.

He believes his time at Peel Thunder in the WAFL has allowed him to hone skills that have made him even more prepared for his AFL debut against Gold Coast. After being named for the game, the 19-year-old said to Fremantle's Media team on Thursday:

“It does feel good, I feel like I’ve been at Peel for quite a while which has definitely helped my development and helped my game a lot so it’s good to finally get some reward. I’m just looking to come in and play my role, nothing will change I guess from playing with Peel. I just want to come in and do my part to try and get a win.”

Davies has been a consistent member of the Thunder’s defense, as they sit at the top of this season’s WAFL ladder, with the best defensive record in the league. On this, Davies said:

“To be honest I just want to focus on the contest. I feel like when I get my contest right and I’m able to kill the ball, everything else from my game kind of flows.”

Defender Heath Chapman made a late withdrawal from the clash against the Western Bulldogs last weekend with acute hamstring awareness. He has been deemed fit and named for Sunday's game.

Veteran forward Michael Walters has been omitted from this weekend’s game due to a hamstring injury he sustained in the game against the Bulldogs in Round 14.

Young gun Joshua Draper has been omitted for Sunday’s game. He has played 12 games consecutively since his debut in Round Two.

Corey Wagner, Tom Emmett, and Neil Erasmus have all been named on the extended interchange.

Bouncedown for the game which is at 2pm AWST.