Australian war hero Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith, who is back on deck as the club’s Number One Ticket Holder for the 2013 season, paid a visit to Freo headquarters today.

The Victoria Cross recipient had a quick chat with senior coach Ross Lyon, and then later with Matthew Pavlich and Ryan Crowley, just moments after Freo’s past two Doig Medallists had completed a rehab session on the track.

An imposing figure, Roberts-Smith picked up a fairly big Freo polo in the Team Store that he hoped to wear at Patersons Stadium this season.

“I’m taking a little bit of leave, so I’ll be able to attend a lot more games and be able to support the club as much as possible in 2013,” he said.

Roberts-Smith said he was honoured to be asked to be Freo’s Number One Ticket Holder again and couldn’t wait for the action to begin.

“It’s always good to have the season start up again and get back into the excitement of another year,” he said.

And he predicted his Fremantle Dockers would have a big year.

“If you look at last season, we had one of our best performances yet and I think we are just going to build on that,” he said.

“The boys have had a fantastic pre-season and they’ve exceeded all expectations.

“I’m really excited.”