Young Fremantle pair Michael Frederick and Karl Worner hit the ground running as Fremantle’s first-to-four-year players returned for the opening day of pre-season training.

Upon arrival, the players were quickly given the task of a surprise set of three 1km time trials for the boys who were ready to get back into a running program.

Worner and Frederick set the early benchmark and were challenged by consistent performances from Neil Erasmus and Matt Johnson, with three different winners across all three trials.

There were several senior players spotted making an early return to the training track as well, offering their support to the young guns before participating in some light running and footwork drills.

Here are our three biggest takeaways from Fremantle’s return to the track:

1. Freddy and Worner set the early benchmark
Worner, who made his debut and played four games in 2023, has already established himself as one of the Club’s strongest runners and did his reputation no harm, blitzing the field late to take out the first time-trial ahead of Michael Frederick in second.

The top-two would remain the same but in reverse order in the second trial, with Frederick flipping the script to storm home over Worner in the last 400 metres.

While the duo came from behind to top the first run, they both hovered in the leading pack before splitting away from the main group in the second.

Frederick would come out on top as the most consistent trialist for the day, finishing second in the third and final time trial of the morning as well. Midfielder Nathan O’Driscoll bolted out in front and held his lead to secure the final trial.

Although dropping out of the top-two, Worner continued to perform strongly in the last run and would snare fourth in the final trial just behind Erasmus.

It was a strong showing from Worner, who was unable to crack into the top-five aggregate in last pre-season’s opening time trails. Frederick on the other hand had a third overall finish last year to improve on, and three top-two finishes were evidence of his improved tank.

2. Midfield duo places in all three trials
Although Frederick and Worner stole the plaudits, midfield pair Erasmus and Johnson impressed with extremely consistent results across all three trials.

In a remarkable display of consistency, Erasmus would finish third in all three trials with Johnson showing the same level of effort to also place in the same position across the three runs, instead having to settle for fifth.

Erasmus looked to be an early contender across the first two trials, getting out of the blocks quickly before being caught on both occasions.

Like Worner, Erasmus has built a reputation at the Club as a strong runner after also blitzing Fremantle's time trials on day one of pre-season last year.

Johnson, although never threatening to lead the pack, put in a big shift to record three straight fifth-place finishes on Monday morning.

Further justification to Johnson’s consistency, he backs up a fifth-place finish from last pre-season’s time trials as well while Erasmus can claim some improvement after holding fourth last year.

3. Senior support from early returners
Outside of the first-to-four-year players, there were several senior players making an early return to the training track to get some run in the legs and offer their support to the young guns.

A core group of Bailey Banfield, Michael Walters, Jordan Clark, Sam Sturt, Sam Switkowski and Brennan Cox were out on the track before the returning players had warmed up, running some timed laps amongst themselves just prior to the time trials.

Some light footwork and kicking drills followed for the older boys, not due back to training until 27 November, before the younger group began their warm-up ahead of the run.

Walters, who will enter his 16th season as a Fremantle player, was noticeably vocal once the trials had started and made an effort to get around his younger teammates in the breaks between runs.

He was particularly supportive of second-year player Conrad Williams, yet to debut, following the trials after recording fourth-place finishes in the first two trials as his development continues.

Aside from the runners, there was also a strong rehab contingent in the first-to-four-year bracket with Tom Emmett, Ethan Stanley, Heath Chapman and Sebit Kuek all present but not yet back into running.

They warmed up with the main group initially before separating to complete their own tasks. They still found plenty of time to support the boys through the trials however as they passed through their drills.

FREMANTLE FIRST TO FOUR YEAR 1km TIME TRIAL FINISHES:

Time Trial 1:
1. Karl Worner
2. Michael Frederick
3. Neil Erasmus
4. Conrad Williams
5. Matt Johnson

Time Trial 2:
1. Michael Frederick
2. Karl Worner
3. Neil Erasmus
4. Conrad Williams
5. Matt Johnson

Time Trial 3:
1. Nathan O’Driscoll
2. Michael Frederick
3. Neil Erasmus
4. Karl Worner
5. Matt Johnson

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