Fremantle forward Scott Gumbleton has already forged a strong relationship with club captain Matthew Pavlich, beginning with a frank pre-season discussion.

Gumbleton joined Freo at the end of the 2013 season after seven years and 35 games at Essendon.

The 25-year-old Peel Thunder product approached Fremantle’s legendary captain before the Christmas break and bluntly asked him for some assistance.

“I told Matthew I wanted him to be really hard on me and teach me, and he said that’s fine,” Gumbleton said.

“We’ve been working closely in training and in the weights room and we’ve started to get a good relationship going.

“Obviously, to learn off him is the most exciting thing for me, that’s what I’m looking forward to, learning how to play the forward line.

“He’s a fantastic player and it would be great to earn the chance to play next to him.”

Gumbleton has also built good relationships with Freo’s coaches, particularly senior coach Ross Lyon and forward line coach Peter Sumich.

Asked what made Lyon stand out as a mentor, Gumbleton said, without hesitation, it was his honesty.

“Ross is hard but fair, which is great for a coach,” he said.

“He’s easy to talk to and very honest with you, which really helps you improve.”

A former number two draft pick, Gumbleton endured an injury interrupted start to his career at the Bombers.

But he wanted to put the perception that he was injury prone to bed.

“All last year I didn’t miss a beat,” Gumbleton said.

“I had a couple of long term injuries early on, but ever since then I’ve been fine.

“The past two years I’ve been unscathed and I’ve been lucky enough to have not missed a session yet at Freo, touch wood.

“I’m feeling fit, feeling strong and I’m looking forward to the season starting.”

Gumbleton has been impressed by the talent in Fremantle’s midfield, but there was one star he would love to have kicking the football to him in the forward line

“All the midfield group are highly skilled and it would be great to line up with any of them, but David Mundy is a fantastic kick,” he said.

“He’s one of those guys you want to train alongside and, hopefully, if I get the chance, he’ll deliver me some balls this season.”

The transition to Fremantle has been smooth for the key forward, partly because of his past relationships with Hayden Ballantyne at Peel and with Kepler Bradley at Essendon.

“I played with both guys before, and when I moved to Essendon I lived with Kepler for the first six months,” Gumbleton said.

“It’s been a pretty easy transition coming back home. All the boys have embraced me and shown me around as well, they’ve been great.

“And I’m lucky enough to be living with Kepler again.”

Bradley is one of a number of key forwards competing for spots in Freo’s forward line this season.

But Gumbleton welcomed the challenge.

“In all football clubs there’s always competition for spots,” he said.

“All I can focus on is putting in the hard work and putting my hand up to do a job, and then, hopefully, perform if I get the opportunity.”