Jack Frost kicks forward for Williamstown. Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT 66237
BY MICHAEL ESPOSITO
YOUNG Williamstown backmen Jack Frost and Dane Rampe are 50/50 chances to go in to the AFL draft, according to the club’s football and development manager Chris Dixon.
Frost, 19, was recruited from TAC Cup side Sandringham Demons and played the majority of the season with Williamstown’s reserves, before working his way into the seniors and playing five of the last six games, including the grand final.
Frost, who did pre-season training with the Western Bulldogs, recently underwent hip surgery, which will see him miss the early part of next season.
Dixon said prospective AFL clubs might hold off on Frost to see how he gets through next season, before looking at recruiting him.
“Hopefully we see him running by March next year, and playing footy around the middle of the year,” Dixon said.
“He might be more of a chance to go in 12 months time if he shows he can come back from his hip operations, its just a question of whether a club wants to get in early and take the risk now.”
Frost, who polled well in the 2010 Morrish medal, impressed this year with his athleticism and natural defensive attributes.
“I certainly think he showed his form with us towards the end of the year, he certainly made a few recruiters stand up and take note,” Dixon said.
“Hopefully the operations improve his speed and flexibility, which is one of Jack’s strengths anyway, so we think there’s a lot of upside with him anyway.
“He has had some hip problems in the past so this is a great opportunity to get it all fixed and put it all behind him.
Rampe, 21, is more of a makeshift defender, but it’s his versatility which Dixon believes could attract recruiters.
“He’s almost a prototype for what an AFL club is looking for in terms of his body size and his fitness. Whether any clubs take a chance on him, he might be more of a rookie pick than anything else, but he’s a lot better than what he was 12 months ago. Clubs that were looking at him last year, you would have to think they’d be considering him again.”
Rampe was more of a winger/half-back flanker before playing more of a lockdown role in full-back for the first time this season.
“He has a real fierce determination and hates being beaten one-on-one, so it almost suits him down to a tee,” Dixon said.
“I wouldn’t say he’s a natural born defender but we’ve worked hard to turn him into a defender this year.”
