With the final selection on night one of the 2025 National Draft, Fremantle took Essendon NGA prospect Adam Sweid, with the Bombers opting not to bid on the exciting half-forward, ending a long and nervous wait for him and his family.
Essendon had managed to secure Sullivan Robey (Pick 9), Jacob Farrow (Pick 10) and Dyson Sharp (Pick 13) with three first night selections, but their decision to trade Picks 21, 27 and 30 to Carlton for the Dyson Sharp pick meant their remaining Pick 36 was not enough to match the bid for Sweid at 25th overall.
Sweid admitted to Dockers Media that the wait to hear his name called was stressful, but was quietly confident that Fremantle would take a chance on him by the end of the night.
"I trusted [Fremantle]. I had a chat with [recruiter David Walls] a couple of days ago and he said that Freo was really interested, so I just trusted him and felt like Freo would bid on me," Sweid said on Wednesday night.
"I was so stressed. I was aware Freo was interested but no matter what, you are always going to be nervous. I was shaking."
Sweid's fit in the purple chevron guernsey is an exciting proposition, however, as the 18-year-old looks to imitate the immediate success of livewire forward and 2025 Rising Star winner Murphy Reid.
Sweid, while a smaller midfield option, is a strong-bodied, powerful half-forward with genuine flair and great stoppage craft, demonstrating an innate ability to connect well inside 50.
“Similar to Murphy Reid, the example he showed last year, to come in as an 18-year-old and just look so calm and poised in the way he went about it," Sweid praised.
"I'm excited to have a chat with him and ask a lot of questions, Shai Bolton too.
"Hopefully I can excite Optus Stadium a few times too."
Should Sweid debut for Fremantle's senior side next season, he'll become just the seventh Muslim player to feature at AFL level - and the first to do so for Fremantle.
He spoke about his excitement to join that list and the importance of his faith in his life.
"It's always my faith, family and then football. If I'm not praying or showing my trust into God, then I don't feel good. I prayed before the draft," Sweid said.
“I want to [join the list] as soon as possible. I want to show Freo that I'm ready for Round 1, or whenever it is, I'm just excited to go.”
Fremantle's remaining picks are Pick 39, 57 and 65, which will be used on Thursday night in day two of the National Draft.
