With his first AFL pre-season almost behind him, Fremantle recruit Connor Blakely says he’s now thinking more about the game than he ever has.

The club drafted the inside midfielder from Swan Districts with the knowledge he was strong at the contested ball.

But Blakely said it was between his ears that he felt he’d made the most improvement in since joining Freo.

“You think about your footy a lot more,” he said.

“It’s pretty full on with all the meetings, so my knowledge of the game is really picking up.

“It’s a lot more than you’re used to. A few years ago, you didn’t have to think too much, you just went out and played.”

Working with superstar midfielders such as David Mundy and Nat Fyfe has also been of great benefit to Blakely.

He said all the experienced Freo midfielders were always thinking their way through the game, not just playing it.

“The way that they cover the ground, they are always running into the right positions, especially at stoppages,” Blakely said.

“They’re really quick in tight places and they generate a lot of speed in the contest, which helps them be very good clearance players.

“That’s something that you pick up from them, they’re always on the move and trying to get to the next contest.

“It’s pretty eye-opening.”

While he’s improved his football bank of knowledge, Blakely said he’d also enhanced physically since arriving at Freo.

“With all the gym work that we do I’m starting to feel a lot stronger on my legs and upper body,” he said.

“That’s helping with not only my running technique, but it helps with covering the ground a lot better and also recovering better.

“My body is holding up really well because of the resources that we have.”