Michael Walters' increased time in the midfield, as part of Fremantle’s emphasis on positional flexibility has been noticeable so far during Freo’s NAB Challenge games.
While the exciting forward has taken well to his new role, he conceded that the change still required a learning curve.
“There’s a lot more thinking involved, but it’s something I really enjoy,” Walters said.
“You need to take into account your teammates responsibilities, and those who go forward and there’s a lot more body work involved.”
In addition to the increased responsibilities that come with playing in the midfield, Walters said he was acclimatising to the differences in physical demands from that of the forward line.
“I’ve had a good pre-season so my fitness is there, but it’s about getting used to different kind of running,” he said.
“In the forward line there’s more sprinting, but in the midfield it’s more important to pace yourself.
“You need the engine to continually jog around, you can’t just go full blast like you do in the forward line.
“But as a whole, it’s good getting a few extra kicks, it helps bring you into the game a bit more.”
Having spent a substantial amount of time in the midfield against Adelaide on Sunday, Walters said it allowed him to recognise areas that Freo needed to improve.
“On a few occasions Adelaide were just harder at it,” he said.
“In the season you need that hardness at the ball from the start of the game and can’t afford any lapses.”
