NAB League 2019: Eastern Ranges midfielder Chayce Black looms as a Fremantle father-son pick

An Eastern Ranges midfielder could make history as just the second Fremantle father-son draft selection this year after impressing during the NAB League pre-season.

Chayce Black dishes out a handball for Eastern Ranges. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Eastern Ranges midfielder Chayce Black could become Fremantle’s first father-son draft selection in 16 years after being named on the club’s list for 2019.

Black is entering his top-age year at the NAB League club and is eligible to be recruited to the Dockers after his father, Heath, played 138 games for the club across two stints during his 12-year AFL career.

Brett Peake was the only player drafted to Fremantle as a father-son, recruited to the WA club in 2003.

Eastern has finalised its 50-player squad for this season ahead of the season-opener against Oakleigh Chargers on March 24.

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Ranges talent manager Sean Toohey said Black, a Waverley Park Hawks junior, was one of the fittest players on the club’s list.

He said Black, who also made four senior appearances for Mazenod in the VAFA Premier B competition last year, was being monitored by Fremantle.

“They definitely have their eye on him,” Toohey said.

“It’s a good opportunity for him, definitely there’s some interest there from their perspective and keeping an eye on him and his progress. Hopefully that works out for him.”

Black made his Eastern debut in 2017 and has played 16 games with the club across the past two seasons.

Toohey said Black was adding forward and defensive bows to his game after playing his junior football through the midfield.

“Chayce is very courageous, natural ball-winner, he’s a really good strong tackler as well and defensively he is strong,” he said.

“We played him down back to teach him a bit of that last year and he took to that quite well — the defensive aspect of his game. Before that he was a bit too attacking.

“He’s probably a bit more balanced now as a midfielder and as a forward, but if he wants to play small forward he needs to be relentlessly defensive and when the opposition have the ball to try and keep that in.

“He’s learnt a lot over the summer and he’s pretty well-rounded. He’s not the tallest, he’s only about 175cm … but hoping for a big year for him.”

Mihaele Zalac flies for a mark last year. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Toohey listed Donvale junior Mihaele Zalac as a player to watch during the season.

“He’s strong, fit and fast and has some explosive power, some real athletic ability, around the 197cm mark, covers the ground really well so he is very good in the air, very courageous,” he said.

“He’s one to watch. He really stands out with his intensity and his aerial capabilities, especially for someone who will play on a wing.”

Mooroolbark product Zakery Pretty could also catch the eye with his work inside the contest after coming into Eastern’s side late last year.

James Blanck, Cody Hirst, Riley Smith and Joel Nathan return as 19-year-olds this year, and Vermont junior James Ross has been named captain.