Fremantle was very pleased with the intra-club performances from a number of emerging players who have been pushing hard for a regular spot in the senior team.

Hayden Crozier was near best afield with four goals and plenty of possessions, while Tommy Sheridan, Nick Suban and Clancee Pearce also shone.

Crozier and Sheridan are entering their fourth seasons in the AFL, while Suban and Pearce are going into their seventh years.

Ruckman Aaron Sandilands, who played in the forward line for almost the entire match, reserved plenty of praise for all those players, who he said had “taken the next step”.

He added Crozier had enjoyed a great pre-season.

“I don’t think he’s missed too many sessions throughout pre-season,” Sandilands said

“He’s absorbing as much information as he can and trying to improve himself every time he steps out on the training track and I think you can see that in the way he’s playing his footy.”

Senior development/assistant coach Simon Lloyd echoed Sandilands’ sentiments about the development in Freo’s emerging players.

“Between Crozier, Sheridan, Lachie Neale and Cam Sutcliffe, they’re all going into their fourth year now and Crozier is one that has really worked hard,” he said.

“You saw today at times he broke really hard and ended up kicking four goals.”

Sandilands said the pressure coming from those players desperate to win a spot in the best 22 was very healthy for the entire club.

“They’re the guys who have been putting the pressure on, consistently performing over pre-season and last year as well,” he said.

“It’s good to see these guys coming through the system; they’re as desperate as anyone to take a spot.

“That’s only good for the club.

“Whoever gets that chance come round one, I’m sure they’ll take it.”

Lloyd also praised Suban’s performance in the intra-club, adding he had enjoyed a strong summer.

“Going into the midfield, particularly in that second term, you really saw Nick was important in a number of clearances, but then also his follow-up run,” he said.

“We need the likes of your Nick Subans and Zac Clarkes for us to go to another level.

“You get reward for effort and you can actually see that those guys have put in the effort over summer and hopefully we get the reward.”