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MATURE-AGE draft hopeful Nathan Broad says seeing his close mate Blaine Boekhorst get drafted to Carlton last year fuelled his desire to try and make it at AFL level.
The 22-year-old West Australian is one of a number of mature-age players being closely looked at by AFL clubs in the lead-up to the NAB AFL Draft.
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The 191cm defender had an excellent season for Swan Districts in the WAFL and was interviewed by five different AFL clubs across the year.
Boekhorst was a bolter in a last year's draft and Broad said he was inspired after seeing his friend get drafted.
"Seeing him go pick 19 in the national draft gave me a lot of belief that I could at least find myself on a rookie list," Broad told AFL.com.au.
Broad impressed at the WA state screening last month, running 24.04 seconds in the repeat sprint (better than any player in the national combine) and the third-best beep test (level 14.1).
Broad said his only previous experience at the WA state screening in 2011 had helped prepare him this time around.
"When I was 18, I was interviewed by a few clubs and got an invite to the state screening," Broad said.
"I was hoping to be given the opportunity back then but things didn't go to plan.
"The dream has always been there but realistically it hasn't become real again until the last few months or so.
"I'm definitely in a better head space to be on a list now then when I was 18. I know my time to make it to the next level is getting shorter so I'm more desperate for the opportunity now."
Between 2012 and 2014 Broad was on the fringes of Swan Districts' league side, playing 40 matches in the reserves and just 20 in the seniors. It was largely his skills and decision making that had been halting his progress.
Swans coach Greg Harding said Broad had improved exponentially in that area. Broad said Harding's forthright feedback had been a driving force behind his improvement.
"I think I've just always had that natural athletic ability but the skills side of it was letting me down from pushing up to league football," Broad said.
"Greg's always been brutal on me and what I need to work on so I have him to thank for helping me on my deficiencies."
Swan Districts football manager, and former Fremantle recruiting manager, Phil Smart said Broad's improvements had come with time.
"He's really brought a better decision making process to his game so he's just not a bull at a gate like he used to be as a kid," Smart told AFL.com.au.
"He actually gives himself a bit of time now to make his decisions and that's come with a bit of maturity.
"He really gives some run and carry. He really gives some spark out of our defence in regards to setting up the play."
Broad has also been doing a plumbing apprenticeship that he said has brought some balance to his life.
He is currently stuck in Bali after his holiday was unintentionally extended due to the volcanic ash cloud grounding flights in and out of the country.
He was due home last weekend but is now hoping to get home by Friday.
"It hasn't affected my training," Broad said.
"We have a gym in the hotel and the humidity makes training a lot harder so my body feels just as good as when I left."
Broad said he will watch the draft with his housemates and his parents but he has low expectations.
"To be honest, I'd be happy with a late-round rookie spot," Broad said.
"I just want the chance to be on a list and prove I'm good enough to make a career at the next level."
