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Fremantle small forward Lachie Schultz would be in favour of having the draft age raised to 21, the former Williamstown player having been overlooked as a teenager before being picked up by the Dockers.
Having played 43 games of VFL with the Gulls from 2016-18, Schultz was selected with pick 57 in the 2018 AFL Draft, overlooked in the previous three drafts.
Speaking to Sports Drive on Wednesday, Schultz said he saw benefits in having the draft age pushed back by three years.
"Speaking from my experience, I'd love to see it changed. I wasn't ready at 18, to have that couple more years playing state league footy put me in a really good position to be drafted from where I was." the 22 year old said.
"I feel like I've benefited from that, it's something they (the AFL) could look into I guess."
Schultz is about to enter his second AFL season, having played 7 games in his first in 2019.
He hopes for more regular opportunities in 2020, as the Dockers look for a long term replacement for retired goal sneak Hayden Ballantyne.
"I've been training as a small forward, but I'll play whatever role makes the team better. At the moment that's as a small forward and I'm comfortable there, but at the same time I'll play wherever JL (coach Justin Longmuir) wants me to play."
Schultz has his eyes set on a round one spot against Essendon at Docklands on March 21st, with pre-season hit outs against Carlton and West Coast serving as an opportunity to press his claims.
IMAGE: Fremantle FC website.