After signing a four-year deal on his arrival at Fremantle, new recruit Nathan Wilson hopes to be crucial long-term player at the club he grew up supporting.

Recruited from GWS during the 2017 NAB AFL Trade Period, Wilson was unveiled to media on Thursday in his first obligation as a Freo Docker. 

The 24-year-old defender used his new teammate in defence Joel Hamling, also 24, as an example of how he would like to approach his first year and future at Freo.

“Hamling held up pretty well last year coming from the Bulldogs,” Wilson said. 

“(We’re) a young group, and hopefully, we can stay together for the next five to six years and take this team where we want to be, and that’s to the top.”

After playing back-to-back preliminary finals with the Giants, Wilson said he was happy to join a youthful Fremantle side looking to build for future success.

“I’m thankful to the Giants for what they’ve done for me for the past seven years. The last two prelims have been massive for me and, hopefully, at this club we can take it that far,” Wilson said.

“I know we’re in a rebuild stage, which I’m happy to help. The Giants were in a similar situation. I know there’s a lot of young boys here as well and I can’t wait to start the pre-season and start the 2018 season here.”

Wilson joked about being willing to play anywhere at Freo, but with his speed and accurate disposal, the Peel Thunder product looks set to slot in at half-back in the position vacated by Lachie Weller. 

“I’ll play ruck!" said WIlson to laughs form the media.

"Hopefully, I’ll play half-back, I’m not talking about round one yet, I’m looking forward to the pre-season and earning respect from the players here first and we’ll go from there. 

“Looks like, hopefully, I can play half-back and fill the spot from Weller leaving and beat my man and run as fast as I can.” 

After ranking second for metres gained in the AFL in 2017, behind Brownlow Medallist Dustin Martin, Wilson hopes he can excite Freo fans running out of the backline and down the wing at Perth Stadium.

“I hope I can beat my man first. I play in the backline so I’ve got to defend and then obviously run,” Wilson said.

“Give me the ball and I sort of want to take people on. I like to be exciting and play on instinct and that’s what I’ve done for the past four or five years since I moved to the backline.”

Like his new senior coach, Wilson enjoyed being candid during his first media conference in purple and said he’s taken on advice given by Ross Lyon.

“Ross lived in Sydney for a while and he said (moving to play football in WA) is more adjusting to what Perth’s about,” Wilson said.

“I grew up in Mandurah, where there isn’t as many people as there are here in Perth.

“He said to look forward to it, look forward to the challenge, look forward to the media, look forward to people coming up to you. I can’t wait, that’s what I grew up wanting and it’s here and it’s real.

“Ross has great values and he’s really strong. I like his values and game plan and I can’t wait to be under his wing and learn. He’s been to Grand Finals before.”

Wilson was pre-listed by the Giants as a 17-year-old in 2010 and made his debut in Round 1, 2012 in the inaugural game for GWS against the Swans at the SCG.

Drafted as a small forward, Wilson moved to the Giants defence in season 2015, where he cemented his spot as a regular in the GWS backline. 

The elite rebounding defender played 24 of a possible 25 games for the Giants in 2017, notching up 77 career games over six seasons.