Fremantle Dockers recruiting manager Brad Lloyd says club was impressed by draftees playing against men Lachie Weller comes to Fremantle with NEAFL experience under his belt. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images Source: Getty Images FREMANTLE'S latest batch of draftees might be capable of stepping up to AFL level quickly given three of the youngsters have already played against men. The Dockers" national recruits from the past two years have barely been sighted, breaking through for just seven games between them. Fremantle recruiting guru Brad Lloyd however said the WAFL league experience of Connor Blakely (No.34) and Josh Deluca (No.68) would stand them in good stead. Deluca played 12 games for Subiaco this season, including an influential role in the Lions" Grand Final victory, while Blakely has played 15 games for Swans. Queensland recruit Lachie Weller, the club's first pick at No.13, has also played for Southport in the NEAFL. While their league experience is invaluable, Lloyd warned that breaking into Fremantle's top-class midfield next season would still be a big ask. "It's a real tick to see them play senior footy and really impact at that level,"" Lloyd said. Some of the Victorians don't get that opportunity, but it was a real positive. Lachie, Connor and Joshua have all played senior footy at state level this year in the WAFL and in the Queensland league. So it's up to them. They've played against men already, but they've got to break into a strong midfield as well so we'll just see how they settle. It's too early to predict."" Forward Michael Apeness (two matches) was the only one of last year's national draft intake to feature at senior level in 2014, while the class of 2012 - Josh Simpson, Tanner Smith and Max Duffy - have played only five games between them in two seasons. Simpson has been delisted with Smith dropped to the rookie list. The Dockers have been criticised for overlooking key-position players, with Matthew Pavlich and Luke McPharlin likely to retire at the end of 2015. Ex Fremantle midfielder Paul Hasleby took aim at the club on Twitter, saying their choices didn't make sense. Lloyd is adamant Fremantle has the generational change covered, with Apeness and Matt Taberner in attack, Alex Pearce and Smith in defence and back-up ruckman Jack Hannath. He said the decision to draft midfielders was indicative of the club's faith in their progress. "We're really happy with how they're tracking,"" Lloyd said. We have gone out of our way with talls over the last couple of years and they're doing a good job, the ones that have come in. They're really building. "It's important to keep topping up your midfield, so we've been able to do that which is good.""