Williamstown’s Charlie Dean called up to AFL draft combine

Towners coach Justin Plapp says his emerging defender is capable of going on to play in the AFL.

Williamstown Football Club prospect Charlie Dean.

Emerging Williamstown defender Charlie Dean’s strong season has been recognised with an AFL draft combine call-up.

Dean, 20, is the only player from the VFL to be invited to the testing.

He was among a bunch of players added to the combine list on September 2.

Dean played in the NAB League for the Sandringham Dragons, having a 19-year-old season in 2019, and joined Williamstown last year.

In his nine matches this year he averaged 14.8 possessions and 7.3 marks.

“I hadn’t had a lot to do with him before but I couldn’t have been more impressed with what he was able to do this year,’’ Seagulls coach Justin Plapp said of the 195cm Dean.

“His performances were at a really high quality.

“He’s a hardworking kid, his IQ is as good as I’ve seen in a young player, probably up there with Bayley Fritsch, and he’s a competitive bugger, doesn’t like to get beaten.

“His intercept marking, his ability to read the ball and mark it, particularly deep in defence at different times, was a real highlight for us.

“His kicking is good too. He kicks the ball as well as any big bloke you’ll see, kicks it hard and kicks it flat.’’

Charlie Dean at the Dragons.

Plapp added: “I think he’s got a really bright future. I think Charlie can play at AFL level and play really good football, that’s how high I rate him.’’

Dean is among the favourites for the VFL’s Fothergill Round Mitchell Medal, awarded each year to a “likely player’’ (Fritsch won the award under Plapp’s coaching in 2017).

The past 14 recipients went on to play in the AFL.

Plapp said he could recall Dean training briefly at Melbourne ahead of the 2019 season and “being a really underdeveloped kid’’.

“Now he’s turned into a man and he’s physically ready to play. He’s put a lot of work into his footy and he deserves everything he gets,’’ he said.

Latest AFL draft combine selections

Victoria

Sam Breuer, GWV Rebels

Justin Davies, Dandenong Stingrays

Oscar Morrison, Geelong Falcons

Cooper Whyte, Geelong Falcons

Charlie Dean, Williamstown

Braden Andrews, Oakleigh Chargers

Luke Cleary, Sandringham Dragons

Ben De Bolfo, Northern Knights

Joel Fitzgerald, Northern Knights

Felix Flockart, Sandringham Dragons

Caleb Lewis, Sandringham Dragons

Luke Nankervis, Sandringham Dragons

Sam Paea, Calder Cannons

Jed Rule, Oakleigh Chargers

South Australia

Oscar Adams, Glenelg

Zac Becker, Sturt

Isaiah Dudley, Central District

Ronald Fejo Jnr, NT/SA/Northern Territory/West Adelaide

Harvey Harrison, North Adelaide

Alasatir Lord, Norwood

Jordan Lukac, Woodville West Torrens

Will Spain, Sturt

Western Australia

Josh Cripps, East Fremantle

Richard Farmer, Subiaco

Kaden Harbour, East Perth

Judd McVee, East Fremantle

Noah Pegoraro, West Perth

Luke Polson, Peel Thunder

Jake South, Subiaco

Taj Woewodin, East Fremantle