Mandurah’s Wilson starting to thrive in new-look Dockers outfit

The front half of Fremantle’s season has been turbulent to say the least, but the former Mandurah Centrals junior has been a shining light, and seems to be coming into his own more and more as the season wears on.

The Dockers’ selection panel have swung the axe more than once through their first 12 games of 2018, with several changes each week making it hard to find any continuity.

But the most recent spate of inclusions seems to have been a successful one, with coach Ross Lyon looking to the team’s youth to be their driving force going forward.

It’s a change that seems to have brought out the best in everyone, including Wilson, who was named to the AFL.com.au team of the week after a stunning performance in an upset win over Adelaide.

The silky smooth defender tallied 22 disposals (18 of them kicks) and six marks in his best outing yet for the Dockers, and seemed to relish the higher intensity and pressure game Fremantle’s young players brought to the table.

But Wilson has also impressed outside of the Adelaide fixture.

He was dominant in his side’s win over the Western Bulldogs with 27 disposals in round nine, and chalked up 23 disposals, nine marks in a loss to Sydney weeks after.

The gun defender is on track to break his career best average for disposals going at 19 per game, along with six marks.

Since crossing over from Greater Western Sydney during the off-season, the 25-year-old has helped solidify a back six that has become the most reliable part of Fremantle’s side.

Wilson lining up next to the likes of Luke Ryan, Joel Hamling, Alex Pearce and Connor Blakely has formed a crucial part of the Dockers’ makeup, and the Mandurah lad’s smooth ball use is often their key to exiting the back half.

It’s a lot to make of just half a season, but Wilson is well and truly cementing himself as Fremantle’s recruit of the year.