Fremantle took on Brisbane in a 15-a-side reserves scratch match at Yeronga on Saturday morning in Brisbane.

The match was a real test of the Freo players’ fitness, who played without a bench, while Brisbane had an interchange of seven.

Mitch Crowden captained the very young Fremantle team, which also featured Stephen Hill and Jesse Hogan, who are building their match fitness.

Fremantle’s head of development Simon Eastaugh ran through how the Freo players fared.

Firstly, how was the game?
It was a really positive experience for our young players. It was their first legitimate hit-out for about 12 weeks. I felt that we got everything out of it that we intended to get, which was the contest, the conditioning and our structures.

It was limited, being a 15 on 15 game but at the same time, we saw some really positive signs with players who prepared themselves really well, especially considering the stand down period.

Our young backs were really solid through the four quarters in Tobe Watson, Jarvis Pina, Jason Carter and Dillon O’Reilly.

Our midfield got to work and we had some really strong contributors in there with Caleb Serong, Luke Valente, Mitch Crowden, Michael Frederick and Tom North.

Lloyd Meek in the ruck, he was on his own and had up to three different opponents a quarter. To his credit, he played the entire game and we had no interchange, so these guys worked really hard.

How is Tobe Watson progressing, do you feel he’s on the cusp of a call-up should a spot become available?
That (a spot becoming available) or form. He showed some really good form today. He was very strong in the air to support his teammates and showed some really positive signs with his bodywork in one-on-one contests against much larger physical opponents.

And Caleb Serong, how close is he to being AFL ready?
Caleb was super competitive and fierce right from the start of the game. He really dished it up to the Brisbane mids who were rotating players through.

He really wanted the contest, he showed that he’s got the skill, the aggression and competitiveness that we’re looking for at the next level. His opportunity is coming.

How did Jesse Hogan go? Was today mostly a test of his fitness?
I think for Jesse, it’s gaining that confidence to be back on the field, working up and down the ground and competing in the air. He really led the forward half of the team and directed the younger players around him.

He was tireless in his efforts. The one umpire system might have hurt him a bit, he probably had a bit more attention than was warranted, but to his credit, he stayed focused on the game and came out of it really well. I think that he gained a huge amount of confidence out of it.

And how did Stephen Hill look out there?
Stephen was great, he patrolled across the half-back line. He had great composure with ball in hand and didn’t look like he was holding back at all. He gave himself every chance to be ready to go in round three.

How is Luke Valente going after overcoming his groin issue in 2019?
I think that young group of players - the second to third year players - they really blossomed and excelled in the stand down period and Luke is one of the guys who led the way. He got himself to a level of fitness that was above what he was before we took that hiatus.

The way that he competed today, he got through the four quarters, he’s got elite hands and is a fantastic kick under pressure and in traffic. The way he played was a real bonus for the depth of our midfield and it’s great to see the character that he’s showing to get through (the injury) and to be showing trajectory in the right direction.

How did the forwards go? Who was up front?
Issy (Isaiah Butters) and Leno (Thomas) played forward with Jesse. We had some mids going through there and Michael Frederick who was playing wing as well.

Jesse was our one-out big guy and Issy and Leno played the small forward roles. They were quite lively around the feet of the contest.

Tom North, through the midfield, came forward as well, as did Mitch Crowden. We had a bit of versatility through there but Jesse was doing the work as the only tall.

The fans are really excited about Michael Frederick. What did you see from him?
Michael showed the speed that we know that he has. He’s got tremendous fitness as well, which is a real bonus for that wing position.

His speed is not unlike the calibre of the players that are no longer with us, like Ed Langdon and Bradley Hill. He can run and he uses the ball really well.

He’s learning all the time about our structures and the aspects of being organised in the game. He has some great instincts, so it was good to see him out there in that environment. It was definitely a step up up to the level those guys come from.

Anything else to add on the game?
They all got through unscathed. That was the bonus which gives ourselves the opportunity to have more players available for next week.