Defender Garrick Ibbotson can only see positives when assessing Fremantle’s new look backline for the 2017 season.

After equalling his personal best in November’s 3km time-trial, Ibbotson is also hopeful of getting back to his best and recreating his 2015 All-Australian form.

“I had no injuries at the end of last season, so I’ve had a full off-season program that I could do,” Ibbotson said.

“I’ve been injury free so far. It’s been good, it’s been promising so far.”

During the off-season, Fremantle bolstered their defence, adding key defender Josh Hamling in the NAB AFL Trade Period, as well as selecting the highly touted Griffin Logue with pick No.8 in the NAB AFL National Draft.

The club didn’t stop there, adding depth with versatile defenders Brennan Cox and Luke Ryan in the draft, as well as Taylin Duman in the NAB AFL Rookie Draft.

Ibbotson welcomed the new faces, especially in the 194cm Hamling. The Bulldogs premiership player stands eight centimetres taller than Ibbotson, which could allow Ibbotson the freedom to take on some smaller forwards.

“Yeah it’ll be nice to sometimes to play on someone around my height and weight,” Ibbotson said.

“It’s been interesting talking to Joel, obviously from where he’s been and playing in a premiership last year and sort of feeding off him a little bit.

“He’s still a young guy, but he’s got a lot of experience and he’s a premiership player now too.

“It’s still up to Ross where I play and what position I’ll be playing in. I’ve played a bit of half-back and played on a few talls before too, so no matter where I end up, I don’t see a lot of difference.”

With Logue settling in well with the full squad at training, Ibbotson says the 18-year-old prospect from Swan Districts is doing his best to earn a start in the coming season.

“It’s hard to say, but from what I’ve seen of (Logue), he’s an outstanding talent,” Ibbotson said.

“He’s a big guy, I think he’s 95kg already and he’s only young. He moves really well and he’s really eager to learn. It’s hard to say if he’ll be playing early or not, but I think he’s done a lot right.”