With AFLX only a few months away Freo have started their preparations for the modified game, and there are plenty of players at the club putting their hand up to be involved.
The players were put through an AFLX simulation drill at the end of training on Wednesday morning and Michael Walters said it would be something the players would need to get used to.
“It’s fast game, there’s heaps of sprint work and lots of small players zooming around the field,” Walters said.
“It’s also a high scoring game which is something we like.”
The soon to be father of three said, he’ll focus on getting through Christmas and the arrival of his third daughter in late December, then come back to the club ready to go in January.
“There’s a few boys who are keen to play, it’s a fast game so it would suit guys like Bradley Hill, Mitch Crowden and Hayden Ballantyne,” Walters said.
“‘Ballas’ has the speed and zip in him which is good.”
High performance manager Jason Weber said the players would be well prepared for AFLX and a similar process to in-season games would be taken when deciding who will represent Freo in the competition.
“We ran a session this morning where we had the field dimensions similar to AFLX, and while it is a new concept, it is something similar to what we use in our preparation most years,” Weber said.
“At this stage we are focussed on getting the guys ready and available,” Weber said.
“Once we get closer to AFLX the coaches will work through the match committee process with a view to making sure the right players are available based on how they are building to round one of the AFL season.”
