FREMANTLE recruiting manager Brad Lloyd spoke with fremantlefc.com.au following the 2008 NAB AFL Draft.

Draft summary
"We felt we had a number of retirements throughout the year, so we felt we had to cover a lot of areas.

"Our decision was to go with the best available talent and we've ended up coming away with Stephen Hill with our first pick, and we're really excited about him.

"We're pretty excited to get so many new kids in because it's a fairly lean training group at the moment over at Fremantle, so to get all these new players in the club – there will be a fair bit of excitement.

"I know Matthew Pavlich and the boys can't wait to get them down."

Selection No. 3: Stephen Hill
West Perth/Quinns Districts JFC, WA, Medium midfielder/defender, May 1 1990, 182cm, 72kg
"He'll be able to play a midfield role for us in the longer term, but he's only fairly light at this stage, so there's a fair bit of development left in him to get his body up to AFL level."

Selection No. 21: Hayden Ballantyne
Peel Thunder, WA, Small forward, July 16 1987, 174cm, 77kg
"We got a small forward in Hayden, who kicked 75 goals in the WAFL this year and should be ready to go the most quickly out of the group. He could play senior footy next year and we'd be keen for him to play a fair bit."

Selection No. 24: Nicholas Suban
North Ballarat/Bacchus Marsh FC, VIC, Small midfielder, May 9 1990, 179cm, 82kg
"He's a midfielder who can also go halfback. He's a really good kick of the footy, so it was good to get another midfielder and a backman."

Selection No. 37: Zachary Clarke
Oakleigh Chargers, VIC, Ruckman, September 28 1990, 203cm, 79kg
"We really needed to get another developing ruckman so we really rated Zach. He's pretty skinny at this stage but he's really athletic, so we'll work him pretty hard in the gym. He's a longer term project player for us."

Selection No. 53: Michael Walters
Swan Districts/Midvale FC, WA, Midfielder/forward, January 7 1991, 177cm, 75kg
"He's a midfielder who can play as a small forward as well. He's a really good kick of the footy."

Selection No. 56: Benjamin Bucovaz
Geelong Falcons, VIC, Medium defender/forward, November 2 1990, 188cm, 88kg
"He's another who can play tall forward but also go back as well and also have a run on the ball. He'll cover a number of areas for us."

Selection No. 68: Tim Ruffles
North Ballarat, VIC, Midfielder/small forward, October 5 1990, 180cm, 67kg
"He's a small forward with really good pace and is a good kick of the footy."

Selection No. 77: Christopher Hall
Eagles, SA, Midfielder, June 25 1990, 175cm, 70kg
"Chris is a midfielder from South Australia who's played a few games of senior footy that we're really happy to have as well."