When Adam Cerra’s name was called at pick five last year his former coaches and some recruiters believed it was only because of injury that he had ‘dropped’ so low in the draft.

Drafting is an inexact science and players typically take up to four years to really show what they’re capable of, but even so, we can see what they were talking about.

The teenager’s game against Adelaide at Optus Stadium on Sunday was easily the best of his 11 this season.

Cerra has spent most of his season forward, with limited stints in the midfield, but it was playing his first full game at half-back that he really started to dominate.

The Victorian’s class is obvious, and even though he’s been there less than a season you almost feel more at ease for Freo when the ball is his hands than when all but a few of his more experienced teammates have it.

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Playing behind the ball, Cerra was able to set things up from the back half, and his competitive nature - during the pre-season Alex Pearce said he was already one of their best defensive midfielders - meant coach Ross Lyon could play him there without fearing the Crows would run through him. It also freed him up to show his contested marking skills for the first time, which would have been a pleasant surprise.

In the opening minutes of the last term, as he ticked over his 23rd disposal, his efficiency was sitting at 87 per cent - that’s almost unheard for anyone who has had that much footy, let alone someone of his experience.

Camera Icon Only David Mundy and Lachie Neale had more contested possessions for Freo. Credit: Getty Images

Cerra always looks like he has space and time, and that’s usually a mark of a player with that special something. He made a mistake or two, and it was only in those moments that you remembered he’s only 18 years old.

Given the lack of forwards at Fremantle, Brennan Cox was probably the big story to come out of the Crows game.

But with his 30 disposals and influence in a must-win game for his club, Cerra’s performance could be as important as anything.