Click to view Michael Johnson’s comments on Walters via YouTube.
FREMANTLE forward Michael Walters has earned back the respect of his teammates and is on the verge of breaking into the senior team for the first time this season, according to defender Michael Johnson.
Walters was banned from the club in January for not meeting the team's fitness benchmarks, and he was forced to reshape his body and find form with WAFL club Swan Districts.
The skilful forward has averaged more than 14 disposals and kicked 27 goals in 14 league games this season, and Johnson said he could force his way into the team for Saturday's clash with Melbourne at the MCG.
"He'll be close to getting picked, if not this week then the week after," Johnson said on Tuesday.
"He's playing really good football, he's finding the football and he's kicking goals.
"The way he's running out training and games, I think the guys knew he could do it.
"He just had to go away and think about what he wants to do with his life and if he wants to be an AFL footballer.
"I think that worked. To come back and play the way he's playing, it's unbelievable."
Walters has been named as an emergency for Fremantle the last two weeks and coach Ross Lyon has praised the 21-year-old's response to being banished from the club.
"He's certainly made some deliberate choices to become an AFL player," the coach said last week.
Johnson is close to Walters and knew the young West Australian before he was drafted to Fremantle.
He said the left-footer had control of what he could achieve in the AFL now that he had worked his way back into favour.
"If he wants to be a really good footballer, or of he wants to be a great footballer, it's really up to him," Johnson said.
"He's got support around the club from players and coaches (and) life outside of football is going great as well with him."
Walters was joined at Fremantle training on Tuesday by key defender Zac Dawson, who could return from a three-week knee injury against Melbourne.
Fellow backman Antoni Grover played his first game for the season against the Western Bulldogs but had to be substituted out in the third quarter after suffering a heavy knock in a marking contest with Easton Wood.
"At his age, it's great to see a guy who puts his body on the line the whole game," Johnson said of the veteran.
"It's good to see him back and hopefully he gets another crack this week."
With a number of tall defenders pushing to play this week, Lyon has hinted that Johnson, who is playing career-best football as a rebounding defender, could push forward.
Johnson said he had enjoyed the stability of playing in defence every week but he would be happy to play forward if it helped the team.
"I'm actually enjoying it back there where I can read the play and run and create, and also use my skills coming out of defence," he said.
"The team relies on me to help and defend, and then also when we've got the ball work up and try and get the ball.
"The past couple of years I'd go into games not knowing where I'm playing and sometimes it'd get changed last meeting before the game.
"I can prepare the whole week leading into the game and know who I'm playing on and do some homework."
Nathan Schmook covers Fremantle news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Nathan
