Fremantle youngster Bailey Banfield exceeded his own expectations in his debut season, and the determined tagger is confident of taking another step given he will be better prepared for the AFL's mental challenges heading into 2019.

Banfield was determined to prove recruiters wrong last season after being overlooked in two national drafts, and the mature Claremont product was a surprise packet, playing 20 games.

Handed some tough run-with roles by coach Ross Lyon, including a job on Essendon star Zach Merrett in just his second game, the 20-year-old showed the grit and determination to make the grade.

But the mental grind of stepping into a full-time elite environment impacted Banfield more so than the physical toll, and he believes understanding what it takes to get through a season will hold him in good stead next year.

"I was expecting to be physically challenged, but wasn't necessarily expecting that mental challenge," Banfield said.

"The first part of meeting any challenge is being prepared for it and expecting it, so hopefully I'll be much better at that this year. 

"Physically, my body held up not too bad. I was pretty happy with the way I was able to recover and get up for the game. 

"It was more the mental side where I felt the fatigue. It is a long season and I started to feel the grind towards the end of the season.

"Being a young kid and going into a full-time job for the first time in your life is a challenge to transition into that.