Vice-captain Andrew Brayshaw said he is now pain-free after playing with a knee complaint to start the 2023 season.
Speaking to Adam Papalia and David Mundy on 6PR, Brayshaw said he has worked with doctors and physios on the issue and was pain-free for the first time at the weekend against Brisbane at the Gabba.
“It’s not the start I would have wanted personally,” Brayshaw told 6PR.
“I have had a bit of a knee issue ongoing for a little bit, but I feel like that has come good over the last week.
“My quad has been playing up a little bit and the attachment is right over the knee, so I have just been having some soreness on the kneecap it feels like.
“We have been working heavily with physios and doctors to try and improve that and get my knee pain-free and on the weekend against Brisbane it was pain-free.
“Hopefully, it stays that way and I can keep improving throughout the season.”
Brayshaw highlighted his stoppage work as a focus as he looks to re-capture his stunning 2022 form that saw the 23-year-old crowned as the AFLPA MVP last year.
“There are a lot of things, I want to be a real leader in the engine room and be leading by example,” Brayshaw said.
“My stoppage work needs to improve and I need to continue to work really hard defensively, and my work rate needs to improve.
“I need to continue to try and be as damaging as I can when I have the ball in my hands.
“There are a few things going on that we are really working to improve on as a team and I’m definitely in that boat with my individual performances as well.”
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Brayshaw said Fremantle is setting their sights on Saturday night’s Starlight Purple Haze Game, proudly presented by South 32, to start the turn of their season.
The game will hold extra significance as the Club looks to raise money for the Starlight Children’s Foundation, in what marks the 21st anniversary of Freo’s Starlight Purple Haze Game.
Brayshaw said noticing the ‘little difference’ he was able to make led him to jump at the chance of being an ambassador.
“When I first got to the Club I moved in with Lachie Neale and he was a Starlight ambassador at the time and a spot had opened up from one of the boys who had retired the year previous,” Brayshaw said.
“I got asked if I wanted to come visit the Starlight ward and from that first experience of seeing how much joy these kids got – I thought ‘wow that is having an impact.’
“I thought that if I could have that impact in some way then I would love to do it, and I have been an ambassador ever since.
“The little difference that we can try and make and put smiles on kids’ faces is why we do it, it’s always a really good game for the Club and we try and raise a lot of money.
“It’s a huge opportunity to raise money for Starlight kids and if you’re a fan, jump on the website and buy a beanie or a jumper or make a pledge.”
