Blake Acres and James Aish were welcome additions to the Fremantle roster at last week’s trade deadline, but there are two other ‘new’ faces Dockers fans should be excited by going into next season.

Sam Sturt and Luke Valente arrived at the club through last year’s national draft, arriving with the typical hype that surrounds teenaged recruits.

But their first years in the AFL system were marred by injury, with neither getting a good run at it in the WAFL.

RELATED:

FREO STAR’S STUNNING WEDDING DAY

HOW J-LO SOLD BLAKE ACRES ON THE DOCKERS

MEET THE NEXT GENERATION OF PERTH’S FOOTY WAGS

Valente was hailed as the ‘steal’ of the draft but arrived with a groin issue. He managed only seven league games for Peel.

Sturt was Fremantle’s first pick and struggled with concussion throughout the season, despite showing flashed of brilliance in 12 games for the Thunder.

Camera Icon Perth's Jacob Coniglio kicks out of defence under pressure from Peel's Sam Sturt Credit: Daniel Wilkins

Outlining his 2020 projection for Fremantle, The West Australian football writer Braden Quartermaine said neither should be forgotten when looking ahead to next season.

“The Dockers will be picking for the future next month, but in Sam Sturt and Luke Valente they already have two exciting prospects who should debut next year,” he wrote.

“Sturt and Valente, their first two selections from the 2018 national draft, both endured disrupted first seasons and will hope a strong summer can lead to a change in fortune.

“There is no reason why 2020 won’t bear fruit.”

Sturt’s final game for the Thunder last season saw him kick the winning goal from 50m against Perth, one of three goals the crafty forward-midfielder managed for the match.

Camera Icon Sam Sturt and Paris Wilden at the Doig Medal. Credit: John Koh

His coach at Peninsula Grammar School, former Melbourne player Brett Lovett, recalled his first observation of the raw forward was “Sh** this kid can play”.

Subscriber exclusives on thewest.com.au:

FREO’S REAL TEST WILL COME LATER IN 2020

THE EAGLES DILEMMA KEEPING OPPONENTS UP AT NIGHT

“He does things other players can’t do. Stands out whether it’s being able to take a mark or his cleanness at ground level, understanding of the game, his skills,” Lovett said at the time.

“Leads his man back, turns on them, gets that gaps on them. Leads to the right spots too. If a player is under pressure he leads right into their vision. They look up and there he is right there. Some forwards lead the other way and you have to be Peter Daicos to find them.”