THIS year hasn't only been about getting drafted. Billy Wigmore finished school last year, but rather than coasting along Monday to Friday around training and games, the Western Jets defender has rolled his sleeves up and started full-time work as a carpenter. 

The 18-year-old took care of business on weekends across winter, earning All-Australian selection in a back pocket after an impressive under-18 carnival for Vic Metro mid-year, before he was named at half-back in the Talent League team of the year after finishing second in the best and fairest.

But away from footy, Wigmore has worked for his dad's building business and mainly focused on renovating the family home in Yarraville, including restumping the whole house over two months. 

"A few people told me earlier in the year that it might not be a good idea working full-time because it's a pretty big load on your body with playing footy in the first place. But I found the balance really, really good. Dad was really cruisy with whenever I needed a day off or recovery and stuff, he was always happy to let me do that," Wigmore told AFL.com.au at the AFL Draft Combine in October.

"I graduated last year and I've loved working this year. Working on the family home has been pretty cool. I mean, there's been some hard days – we actually fully restumped the house, so me and one of my best mates had to dig about 50 holes for a couple of months, which was pretty tough – but I think I've learnt a bit of discipline and a bit of hard work."

Standing 189cm, Wigmore is considered by many recruiters as one of the premier intercept defenders in this year’s pool. He showcased his ability to cut off opposition forays forward across 2026, averaging 9.5 intercepts per game in the Talent League and 9.8 in the national championships. Five-time All-Australian Tom Stewart has a similar frame and is the blueprint for how Wigmore wants to ply his trade. 

"Tom Stewart is one (I try and mould my game around), not just this year but ever since I was a kid I've always loved watching him play," Wigmore explains inside the Betty Cuthbert Bar at the MCG.

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"When I was in under-12s, I was like every young kid does, and just wanted to kick goals and stuff. My coach put me in the back pocket and I was a bit shocked because obviously you watch all the good players kicking goals and doing the celebrations. But it came pretty naturally to me and sort of every year after that, whenever I played rep footy and stuff, I was always off the half-back. If I could be anywhere near as good as him [Stewart], it'd be pretty cool."

Greater Western Sydney half-back Finn Davis has walked a similar path to Wigmore, progressing through the Western Jets' pathways out of Williamstown. Having a close friend 12 months ahead has been highly beneficial for Wigmore. 

"He's been a cool resource to sort of touch base and see how it is being an AFL player," Wigmore said. "And just seeing him get drafted made me think, oh, I definitely want to do that. I reckon obviously he's a very good player, but to see it actually happen and being a Western Jets boy – they usually get slept on a little bit – gave me a bit of something to work to, I guess."

Wigmore wasn't the only player from the Western Jets invited to the Draft Combine and isn't the only one expected to hear his name read out in late November. Lachlan Hicks won the best and fairest and ran the second fastest 2km time-trial. Then there is Khaled El-Souki, who is a member of the Western Bulldogs' next generation academy and one of the most exciting forwards in this year’s draft class. 

"I've played with Khaled a lot. We actually won a local premiership together, so I know him really well; he's one of my good mates; we've played a lot of footy with him," Wigmore said.

"It's pretty cool to see all the people that come to watch him play. Obviously they get around him a lot and he really uses that energy in his footy. And you can see when he's playing his best footy, he's got his chest out and he's celebrating with his mates.

"Fun is probably a really good word to describe him as a player and also as a person. He's very cheeky, can be a bit of a pest at times, but he's a very, very good person as well. But yeah, fun's definitely a good way to describe him."

Davis has hit home how much work is required to take the next step this summer. But last summer was spent digging holes in the heat. So whatever comes next – wherever that is in the country – Wigmore is ready to get to work.

"I've spoken to a few boys that have been drafted, including Finn, about what it's like to be an AFL player. Finn said the main thing you notice is how hard you have to work and how many kms you have to do at training," he said. 

"But I think there was some summer days where I was digging holes all day and then coming home and doing my run and doing what I had to do. So I think I've got a pretty good work ethic, but also a good appreciation of working a proper job, too."