Two years after being freed from jail, Shane Yarran is an AFL-listed footballer.

Yarran, who was released from jail in March 2013 after sentenced to six years for burglary, was picked by Fremantle in Tuesday night's national draft.

"We did our background on Shane and spent a significant amount of time with him," said Fremantle's recruiting manager Brad Lloyd.

"We thought ... how he has applied himself in recent years that he deserved an opportunity."

The 26-year-old, a cousin of ex-Carlton and now Richmond player Chris Yarran, has starred in West Australian state league ranks since his release from prison.

Yarran has won two premierships in two WAFL seasons, and this year won the league's leading goalkicker award.

"He has applied himself to his football. He has been pretty dedicated and produced at state league to the highest level he could," Lloyd said after the Dockers recruited Yarran with pick 61 in the draft.

"He's really desperate for an opportunity at AFL level.

"He is really driven and wants to make it and we see someone there who has got a burning ambition to be a good AFL player."

AAP