Fremantle Dockers track watch: Defenders given licence to attack in match simulation, Fyfe flies and frustrated Walters sets standard

The Dockers had been training for around two and a half hours by the time they split into two teams and got in one last block of work. It was competitive and physical but not traditional. Instead of letting the contest unfold, the coaches focused on match specific scenarios and ball movement.

Each passage of play was started by a defender, ball in hand, in line with the centre square.

The coaches would then sound the whistle to signal the start of play.

The defenders generally looked sideways and moved the ball across the corridor to reposition their opposing backline before sending it mostly deep inside attack.

That’s where Nat Fyfe got to work, very nearly reeling in a spectacular hanger. Fyfe looked a lot more comfortable up forward and earlier in the session, he took two strong overhead marks on the lead.

Sebit Kuek and Jye Amiss kicked a goal apiece from the modified match simulation and Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson played on the same team. While building, the pair’s chemistry was obvious when Jackson roved off Darcy in the ruck and helped create a goal.

The match simulation wrapped up after two brief halves but wasn’t anywhere near as solid as other sessions. Play was stopped and reset when the red team cleared the ball past halfway so it was more of a half-field exercise giving Fremantle’s defenders the chance to set up forward thrusts.

Not so Sonny

Michael Walters is still driving a high standard even in his 15th AFL pre-season.

The 32-year-old looks slim, trim and ready to play a significant role up forward again this season after featuring in 21 games, including Fremantle’s two finals last year. Walters received plenty of recognition from his teammates for a chase-down tackle early in the session, nabbing Heath Chapman from behind.

Walters was also the most vocal Docker on the track. The veteran dropped some expletives and was frustrated at times but he also used his voice to support his teammates.

Clear on the injury front

For what would have to be the first time this pre-season, there was nobody in Fremantle’s rehab group on the far side of Victor George Kallis Oval on Tuesday morning.

Most, if not all, of the Dockers’ casualty ward were back in some form of full training as Fremantle made the most of strong numbers.

There were a few minor concerns as the intensity increased but all players managed to continue. Karl Worner looked to injure a finger, Bailey Banfield landed awkwardly on an ankle and Andrew Brayshaw was left gasping for air after copping a knock to this throat from a fend off.

Defender Brennan Cox ran laps as he continues to recover from a minor knee infection after falling from a skateboard. But Nathan Wilson, who has been sidelined with a broken finger from a boat accident, stepped back into full training albeit wearing a red non-contact cap.

The defender got the final tick of approval early in the session in a physical one-on-one tackling drill with a club staffer.

Draft pick Hugh Davies has also stepped up his involvement in training. It’s been a slow build for the key defender after he suffered stress fractures in his back last year.

Mature age recruit Corey Wagner wasn’t spotted on track but has been seen running since injuring his hamstring during match simulation last month.