Developing midfielder Adam Cerra has been balancing the fine line between growing his strength and fitness in his first two seasons at Fremantle.

The 20-year-old heads into his third pre-season weighting six kilograms heavier than his draft weight, and said his goal has always been to incrementally increase his size as he looks to break into Fremantle’s midfield.

“I’ve gradually gone up by about six kilograms since getting here, every year it’s just about adding a couple kilograms,” Cerra said.

“On top of that, you have to build your running as well, so you don’t want to get too heavy too quickly.

“The strength and conditioning staff say it’s about having a gradual build and over time that weight will come.”

See all the photos from training on Monday

The no.5 selection in the 2017 National Draft has racked up 41 games experience in his two years in the AFL.

Cerra has primarily played as a half back and feels his time with Freo’s defensive unit will benefit him wherever he plays this season.

“That defensive part of the game, it needs to be applicable all over the ground,” Cerra said.

“(Playing defence) gives you a great understanding of what pressure the defence can be under when the midfielders aren’t doing their job.

“You always need to be defending and those traits you learn as a defender, they definitely come in handy playing midfield or forward.”

Like Cerra, fellow top-five draft pick Andrew Brayshaw is targeting a spot in a Fremantle midfield that is led by two-time Brownlow medallist and captain Nat Fyfe.

“Andy and I have been playing together since our U16s, we do a lot of things together,” Cerra said. 

“We feel like we work really well together, we’re really close mates off the field. I’d love to be playing midfield with him.

“I think every young aspiring midfielder wants to get that crack in the midfield, especially to play with the likes of players like Nathan.”