Fremantle football boss Peter Bell believes at least three of the club’s four national draft selections are capable of having an immediate impact next season.

The Dockers overlooked local talent in favour of interstate recruits, adding highly rated South Australia under-18 captain Luke Valente (pick 32) and mature-age Williamstown pair Lachlan Schultz (57) and Brett Bewley (59) yesterday.

They took bolter Sam Sturt (17) in the first round on Thursday night.

While athletic forward Sturt has work to do on his skinny frame, Bell felt the trio of later picks would all arrive ready to mount serious cases for round-one selection in 2019.

“You’d like to think so,” he said. “Clearly character was a big part of the reason why we’ve selected them.

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“They’ve got great character and they look like they’re going to work hard.

“The two Williamstown guys have that added maturity and experience with their bodies and Luke is 186cm and 82kg, so there’s no reason from a body perspective why they couldn’t stake their claim early next year.”

Norwood product Valente led South Australia to the national under-18 championship this year and was touted as a possible first-round selection after being named the Croweaters’ Most Valuable Player.

Though not the fastest midfielder, the natural right-footer is comfortable kicking the ball on both feet and was identified to help address Fremantle’s ball use issues.

“When he was available, we couldn’t type his name into the system quick enough,” Bell said.

Fremantle overlooked highly rated Perth product Ian Hill with their first pick, denying him the opportunity to link up with second cousins Stephen and Bradley Hill.