Emerging Fremantle midfielder Lachie Neale sometimes has to pinch himself with the great company he is in.
 
Freo’s engine room was at its dominant best against Geelong on Sunday and Neale says he is continually learning off his teammates.
 
“I’m sort of in awe of those guys, I can learn heaps off them,” Neale said.
 
“(Nat) Fyfe, (David) Mundy, (Michael) Barlow, (Stephen) Hill…all of those guys have been fantastic for my development and will continue to be.

Five Freo stars again in 'Team of the Week'
 
“I’ve still got a lot of room to grow and having those guys around me is really going to help me.”
 
The humble 21-year-old won the Ross Glendinning Medal for best afield in the round 7 Carlton Draught Derby last year, but says he has a lot of improvement in him as the team prepares to battle West Coast.
 
“It was one performance (last year),” Neale said.
 
“Last year I was a little bit inconsistent as a whole, so I’ll look to build on my form this year and try and play another consistent game this year.”
 
One area the Freo midfielders were exceptional at against Geelong was having a scoreboard impact.

Fyfe in flight

Neale said being more of an attacking threat was an aim of his.
 
“I need to hit the scoreboard, I didn’t hit it too much last year,” Neale said.
 
“We’ll see (if I’ll play more forward this week), I’m not sure what the plan is, it’s very early in the week.
 
“The match committee will decide who is going to fill that forward role.”
 
Neale believes the key to defeating West Coast will be taking honours in the midfield battle.
 
“They’ve got a strong midfield,” he said.
 
“Obviously (Matt) Priddis the Brownlow Medallist, Luke Shuey, Scott Selwood…they’re a great midfield.
 
“We’re going to have to bring it again and the first two weeks have been important for us in the midfield, so it will be a key again this week.”
 
Freo takes on West Coast in the Carlton Draught Derby on Sunday 19 April.
 
Bounce down is 2.40pm WST at Domain Stadium.