Darcy Tucker is primed to have a career-best year as he builds through an uninterrupted pre-season and looks to cement a spot as a versatile inside and outside midfielder.
Fremantle fans have had plenty of glimpses of the 24-year-old’s talent in his six seasons at Fremantle but his past two years have been hampered by serious hamstring injuries.
Tucker is ticking off all of the requirements of a successful summer on the training track, getting through every session so far and feeling at peak fitness.
He believes his improved running capacity will help him have more of an impact on the wing and as an inside midfielder.
“My running, I think (is what has improved),” Tucker said.
“Coming into last year, obviously off a serious hamstring injury, I was very limited in the off-season, I couldn’t run. Even in the pre-season, I missed probably three-quarters of it before I joined the main group. I felt that really hindered my performance last season.
“I was probably fit in general, but my running ability wasn’t at my best. This year, I’ve had a full off-season, doing the running program, which was a very hard program set by (high performance manager) Phil Merriman and was able to get through it and it was able to set me up for this pre-season.
“I feel like I’m running the best I ever have, which is allowing me to burst from stoppages and reach higher speeds as well. I feel like that part of my game is really going to help me for the wing this year.”
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With the likes of Nat Fyfe (shoulder) and David Mundy (ankle) in reconditioning and Caleb Serong (finger) sitting out full contract drills, Tucker has been prominent as an inside midfielder during match simulations at training.
“So far I have been playing on ball, which has been really good,” Tucker said.
“Speaking to JL (senior coach Justin Longmuir), I do need that flexibility in my role, as a lot of our mids do. When it comes to season time, we’ll just see how the team flexibility goes and where I can play.
“I do see myself around the ball and on the wing, playing a bit of both. It's where I love to play my footy and I’m excited to get amongst it.”
Tucker said he thoroughly enjoys pre-season training despite a week of working hard in 40+ degree heat.
“It’s been very solid actually, which is good. All the boys have come back in ripping nick, which is awesome to see,” Tucker said.
“We had three weeks off over Christmas but we still got together in training groups and trained hard, kept ourselves fit and accountable to each other.
“It’s nice and hot but it’s good to see we’re having tough sessions, everyone’s getting through it and we’re training really well and ramping things up.
“It’s probably the best time of year when we’re starting to have match simulations and more game practice. It’s a time of year that I love.”
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