Fremantle Docker Murphy Reid to use former Sandringham Dragons premiership teammates as extra AFL motivation

Fremantle draftee Murphy Reid is determined to make the most of watching nine of his Sandringham premiership teammates get selected by other clubs, saying they will provide him with even more motivation since joining the Dockers. The Dragons dominated Victoria’s Coates League finals, winning their four games by an average of 56 points to claim the premiership. Their form was then rewarded with 10 players getting drafted. Levi Ashcroft was the pick of the crop after joining Brisbane at number five, Taj Hotton then became a Richmond player at number 12 before Fremantle chose Reid at pick 17. Then Harry Oliver (GWS), Luke Trainer and Harry Armstrong (Richmond), Sam Marshall (Brisbane), Josh Dolan and Luke Kennedy (Western Bulldogs) and Lennox Hoffman (Geelong) had their dreams come true. Reid said they’d all be striving to be the best of the Dragons’ draft crop. “I’m sure we’ll all stay in touch. We’re all very close. If someone is getting a game and if someone is not getting a game, I’m sure we will still be competing with each other. I think it will be a good rivalry for years to come,” Reid said. “It’s obviously very, very good to be part of such a great community there, down at Sandringham. We were all striving to win the premiership, but also to create such good standards. “I think it really set me up to become an AFL footballer and really build off each other and really compete against each other at a high standard.” Reid is determined to use the pre-season to show Fremantle’s coaches that he is ready to play in the opening round against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium. The Victorian is keen to become an AFL midfielder but knows the Dockers already have one of the league’s best onball divisions. Reid feels his ability to also have an impact as a forward will give him several ways to push for selection. “The main goal I’ve got right now is to do my best to play in round one,” he said. “One of the strengths of mine is being pretty versatile and being able to play in different positions. I’ll do everything I can to learn off those guys in the midfield. They’re very big names so I’m sure I’ll learn a lot.”