Royals small defender Fraser a big key to finals hopesFriday, September 4, 2015 - 5:04 PM - by Chris Pike

HE might just quietly go about his business as one of the best small defenders in the WAFL, but East Perth's Mitch Fraser will again have a big role to play as the Royals take on Claremont in Sunday's elimination final at Medibank Stadium.

The 21-year-old small defender has now played 54 games for the Royals and has been a mainstay of the line-up ever since making his debut back in Round 9, 2013.

He cemented his place to be part of the team that made the grand final but lost to West Perth that season, then was again an important part of the East Perth side that won the minor premiership in 2014 and again made the grand final before losing to Subiaco.

Fraser missed a month of football between Rounds 6 and 9 this season, but before and after that he has continued the tremendous start to his WAFL career and now the Busselton-native will have another significant role to play this Sunday in the elimination final against Claremont.

East Perth finished the home and away season in fourth position following winning five of its last six games, and that set up a final at Medibank Stadium against the Tigers but it is do-or-die with the winner to prepare for a first semi-final next Sunday, and the loser to embark on Mad Monday.

The job ahead for Fraser is to not only play his usual role in helping to set up play out of defence for East Perth, but he also looms as the most likely match up for Claremont's leading goalkicker for the season, Jack Bradshaw.

Fraser has enjoyed being part of an East Perth team that found some good form heading into the finals and having already taken part in five finals matches over the last two years, it's a time of year he's getting used to being part of.

"Finals is a great time of year and that's why everyone plays. Everyone is very upbeat at the moment and is happy, and looking forward to Sunday," Fraser told 91.3 SportFM.

"We just started to gel a bit more as a team and we have had a bit of a different look to the team this year with a lot of younger guys.

"We have a lot of guys that are around the 20 years of age mark or younger so it just took a little while for us to all get together, and for everyone to buy into the club culture. Now that we are on the right track we are ready to go for the finals."

While Fraser has now put together three years as one of the best small defenders in the WAFL, he is eyeing off an eventual move into the midfield but right now he has to bide his time waiting for an opportunity to present.

However, the better he keeps doing in his role down back alongside the likes of Kyle Anderson, Nathan Blee and Tom Barrass, not only does he look more comfortable but might make it harder for coach Brian Dawson to risk moving him into a different role. 

"I definitely have ambitions to jump into the midfield. That's where I played the majority of my junior career so I just need to work on my tank a bit, and get a bit fitter and stronger, and then hopefully within the next couple of years I can make my mark in there," Fraser said.

"I am starting to feel a lot more comfortable in my own ability but it's always the way that you can't get too comfortable.

"I was the youngest in the team there for a while but now there's even younger boys knocking on the door so I have to stay on the top of my game for as I can basically to keep my place in the team."