There was some slight respite from the sweltering heat of recent days, but the effort on the track didn’t drop away in any way at Fremantle training this morning.

With actual competition just a few weeks away, senior coach Ross Lyon put his troops through a half-ground match simulation drill.

Many of the senior players lined up on each other, including club greats Matthew Pavlich and Luke McPharlin.

The young players also got the chance to test each other out, with forward Matt Taberner manned by defender Tanner Smith. The pair weren’t holding back, taking each other on in a physical contest.

Tasmanian draftees Alex Pearce and Brady Grey impressed with some skilful moments. Pearce showed excellent mobility to pick a pass up off his shoelaces and then dance between two defenders. Grey was involved in a centre-break that he finished off with a classy, scything pass to Taberner.

Experienced players Nat Fyfe, Hayden Ballantyne, Matt de Boer and Danyle Pearce were among the midfield group.

Lyon intermittently stopped the match play and made the players perform a series of short fitness drills that left many hunched over and breathing heavily.

A host of players did not join in the match practice, including Alex Silvagni, Clancee Pearce, Garrick Ibbotson, Lachie Neale andStephen Hill.

A fit-looking Anthony Morabito, Kepler Bradley and Jonathon Griffin continued to recover from their knee reconstructions. Bradley and Griffin ran around the boundary, while Morabito looked sharp and moved freely throughout the session.