AFL draft: Fremantle category B rookies Toby Whan and Ryda Luke excited for opportunity on an AFL list

New Fremantle category B rookies Toby Whan and Ryda Luke are eager to embrace their opportunity on an AFL list after a nervous wait for confirmation they would be staying in WA. The Dockers confirmed the signing of the two South Fremantle products and members of the club’s Next Generation Academy after rival clubs elected to not pick them up in the AFL rookie draft on Friday. Having watched their peers from around the country and state hear their name called earlier this week during the AFL draft, Whan and Luke — who is the great-grandson of Sir Doug Nicholls — finally had their futures tied to the Dockers. Whan, who rose to prominence with an excellent colts season at South Fremantle which included an eye-catching 41-disposal, four-goal outing against East Perth, said he was glad to have some clarity about next season. “It’s been a nervous wait throughout the last two days, just wondering if I’ll get called out or if not or and then eventually it didn’t happen,” he said. “And now it’s been a lovely rush of emotion and happy emotions and ending up at Freo is a dream come true.” Luke said he was honoured to carry on the legacy of his great grandfather after finding out about his heritage a couple of years ago. “It’s cool that I come from that side of the family. It makes me super proud to be able to have him as my great grandfather and all the history behind that, and hopefully try and become half the man he was,” he said. Like his friend Whan, Luke admitted there had been a lot of nerves in the lead-up to the draft but was glad to be reunited with his Bulldogs teammate at the Dockers. “There was a bit of anxiousness going around the first two nights, not really knowing what was going to happen. Knowing I had Freo NGA to lean on to get picked up was a confidence boost. “I’ve known him (Toby) for a couple years for futures and colts. He’s a great bloke, great player and to be in an AFL team with him is just awesome.” Whan, whose shoulder is progressing well after injuring it in the WAFL colts grand final, said training with South Fremantle’s league side last year had been an eye-opening experience into the world of senior football which would hold him in good stead. “With the pre-season games last year, it was a bit of an eye-opener and training with them all out through the pre-season taught me the speed of the game,” he said. “This will be even more of a step up if I do end up playing and how physical it is, I’m looking forward to it.” Whan joked his father, a Richmond fan, would be converting to the Purple Army soon enough, while he did not mind his nickname of ‘Kenobi’. “It’s been around for a while with mum and her friends and some people understanding the joke. I’m definitely not the biggest Star Wars fan. I haven’t watched many of them, but I might have to start,” he said.