Fremantle defender Greg Broughton believes AFL clubs will be doing themselves a disservice if they opt to overlook mature WAFL players in November's national draft.

Broughton feared his AFL dream had passed him by when he was overlooked at the 2008 national draft.

But the 22-year-old had his hopes revived when he was snared by Fremantle with pick No.74 in the 2009 rookie draft.

The 185cm workhorse hasn't looked back since, making his AFL debut in round three before going on to cement himself as one of the Dockers' most important players in defence.

In 11 games this season, Broughton has averaged 24 possessions and almost four tackles a game while taking on and beating some of the best mid-sized forwards of the competition, including Geelong superstar Steve Johnson.

And Broughton, who played in three premierships for Subiaco before finally getting on to an AFL list, believes there are more mature-age WAFL diamonds in the rough just waiting for their chance.

"There's a lot of guys out there running around in the WAFL that have definitely got the talent to step straight up into the AFL," Broughton said.

"I think every year people miss out and give up but they've got the talent.

"I stuck to it.

"Playing three years with Subi and playing finals there helped me transfer from WAFL to AFL, but it's still hard work.

"It's been pretty tough, on and off the field both with the body and mentally, but I don't need a rest."

Broughton was one of 14 new players drafted to the Dockers at the end of last season.

Fremantle's crippling injury crisis has seen 11 of those first-year players make their debuts this season, with Broughton, Stephen Hill, Nic Suban, Matt de Boer, Hayden Ballantyne and Zac Clarke all impressing after being thrown in at the deep end.

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey praised what Broughton and the other first-year players had brought to the side.

"We just need to fast-track these guys as quick as we can and make sure that we put together the right team around the right experience," Harvey said.

"What Greg has brought to our side is he plays with a lot of maturity and a lot of desperation, and that hasn't gone unnoticed in selection." Fremantle tackle Port Adelaide at Subiaco Oval on Sunday and Harvey was hopeful his young charges could spring a minor upset.

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