In the heart of Fremantle's forward line, young key forward Josh Treacy has emerged as a beacon of potential for the Club at just 21 years old, showcasing a blend of his physicality, determination and leadership beyond his years.

Fremantle's Forwards Coach Jaymie Graham shed light on Treacy's journey, remarking on the development process that has transformed the No.7 pick in the 2021 Rookie Draft from a promising prospect into a key contributor for the Club after his career-best performance against Port Adelaide last Saturday.

"It’s been a couple of years in the making really," Graham noted.

Treacy's impact on the field is palpable, so far in 2024 he has amassed nine goals, 26 marks and 34 hit-outs across the five games, a testament to his versatility with Graham acknowledging the key forward's evolution.

"He came to the Club as a big solid key forward who could crash a pack and bring one effort, but he’s really worked hard on his fitness, and you can see his body shape has completely changed,” Graham said.

“He’s also built on his mental side of the game, and we saw it all come to the fore on the weekend with one of his better performances for the Club.

Central to Treacy's success is his flourishing partnership with fellow forward Jye Amiss, and despite their relative inexperience (both having played less than 50 AFL games in their careers), the duo has displayed promising chemistry on the field, a testament to their dedication.

“It’s really important for not only the forward line, but the future of the Club to have two young key forwards coming through and starting to show some really good signs,” Graham noted on the partnership of the duo despite playing only 22 games alongside one another. 

“Any partnership takes a little bit of time to form the connection and to understand each other’s strengths, but they are working really hard off the field to get to know each other and connecting. 

“They’ve both got different strengths, JT is really physical in the way he goes about it and Jye has got real footy smarts and craft, but they are connecting really well.”

Growing up in regional Victoria in a small country town called Cohuna, Treacy developed his physicality from a young age by playing against fully grown men as a 15-year-old.

“It’s the way I’ve always played," Treacy said on SEN WA Breakfast.

"Growing up playing senior footy against men back home put me in a position where I had to look out for myself.

“I’ve had some tough days as a 15-year-old running around playing senior footy in the country. It definitely does teach you a lot of stuff.

“I was often targeted as a kid, so you learn pretty quick playing against men at that age where to and where not to run.

“I think that played a really big part in me being able to be an aggressor and play that way."

As Treacy continues to make strides in his career, Graham emphasised the importance of consistency and growth.

"Ideally, he (Treacy) just keeps growing and building his game like we saw on the weekend," Graham asserted. 

“They’re not always going to be standout games where he kicks three and takes five or six contested marks, but we are starting to see real consistency.  

“His teammates and us as coaches know what we are going to get from JT every week.”

As RAC Derby 58 looms, Treacy stands poised to lead Fremantle’s charge against cross-town-rivals the West Coast Eagles, with Graham acknowledging the impact Treacy has around the Club, further than just the numbers that make up his game. 

“I think for a while there JT was trying to lead but wasn’t focusing enough on his own game back in the early days, but now his game is sorted, and he is leading really well on the field,” Graham said.

“Directing the other forwards, putting in a lot of work in the week in the way he reviews the game for not only him as an individual but as a line (forwards), and the way he prepares so he understands the opposition and what we are facing.

“He understands what we want from a bigger picture game style point of view, so his leadership is important, and now he’s got his own game sorted out he’s leading the forwards really strongly.”

Fremantle and West Coast will take centre stage Saturday night at Optus Stadium in RAC Derby 58, with bouncedown commencing at 6.10 pm WST.