Jesse Motlop the latest from Motlop family to make his WAFL debut for South Fremantle

SON of a gun and Fremantle prospect Jesse Motlop is the latest WA draft hopeful to earn a senior WAFL debut.The explosive forward-midfielder has broken into reigning premier South Fremantle’s league side for its clash against Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.

South Fremantle and Aquinas College teenager Jesse Motlop is one of Western Australia’s top 2021 draft prospects. He's also part of Fremantle's Next Generation Academy. Picture: Danella Bevis/The West Australian

SON of a gun and Fremantle prospect Jesse Motlop is the latest WA draft hopeful to earn a senior WAFL debut.

The explosive forward-midfielder has broken into reigning premier South Fremantle’s league side for its clash against Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.

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The 17-year-old is part of Fremantle’s Next Generation Academy, meaning the Dockers get priority access to him in the draft, provided he falls outside of the top-20 ‘protected zone’ picks. His dad Daniel fell 17 games short of the 100-game father-son qualification at Port Adelaide, the club he supported growing up, while he also tallied 47 appearances at North Melbourne.

After leading the PSA first XVIII goalkicking as a Year 11 last season, Motlop has been playing a mix of midfield and forward for South Fremantle colts and Aquinas College this year. He is likely to fill a role across half-forward in the league side. He recently started training with the seniors and earned a call-up to their reserves against Claremont last Saturday, finishing with one goal from six touches.

Proud dad Daniel, who was due to fly in from Adelaide on Friday afternoon for his son’s special day, said it was a reward for hard work.

“He’s come a long way and he’s put in a lot of hard work,” Daniel said.

“Our uncles Mark and Paul Motlop played for South Fremantle in the ’80s, so it’s another Motlop coming through and another NT family through South Fremantle.

“I haven’t had the chance to watch Jesse play in Perth yet because of Covid … so I’m excited to get over there.”

Motlop becomes the second Aquinas Year 12 student to get a league debut in as many weeks, following on from his skipper Corey Warner at East Fremantle last week.

Both are expected to feature for WA in the AFL national under-19s carnival, which is set to kick off later in the month.

Motlop played three matches for his family club Wanderers in the NTFL last season.

He booted three goals on debut against Tiwi to earn a NTFL Rising Star nomination.