DAVID Mundy's return to pre-season training has provided a boost for his Fremantle teammates, who know how valuable the stoppage specialist could be in 2013 after an uninterrupted summer.

Mundy suffered a serious ankle injury in 2011 and subsequent off-season surgery restricted him for the first half of 2012 as he battled to build fitness and compete with the game's best midfielders.

The 2010 club champion finished the year in fine form, however, averaging 27 disposals and 6.5 clearances in the last seven games as Fremantle pushed into the second week of the finals.

The 27-year-old also polled Brownlow Medal votes in four of Fremantle's last five games in a sign he had returned to his 2010 best.

Returning to pre-season training this week with no injury concerns, Mundy moved straight into football and running drills with Fremantle's younger players.

Teammate Ryan Crowley, who also joined the main group on his return this week, said it was an encouraging sign.    

"Having David out there is a big boost for the group," Crowley said.

"Just seeing how good his second half of the year was once he got fit, I think a fit David Mundy is a pretty scary proposition … it's good to have him out there."

While Mundy still managed 22 games in 2012, young star Nat Fyfe (11 games) was sidelined with a shoulder injury and ruckman Aaron Sandilands (14 games) was struck down by a toe injury for the second straight year.

Both have opened the pre-season with a clean slate, while midfielder Anthony Morabito continues his rehab from a second knee reconstruction.

Crowley said the opportunity to improve in 2013 was obvious if Fremantle could keep its bestplayers fit and available.

"Nat Fyfe and David Mundy are two of our big keys, and obviously Aaron Sandilands and these sorts of guys missed chunks of the year," he said.

"We've spoken before about availability being one of the biggest things and having your best players on the park."

Fremantle's midfield will also be boosted in 2013 by Port Adelaide recruit Danyle Pearce, who has started training with the club.

The 26-year-old, who played 154 games in eight seasons with the Power, said he had been drawn to Fremantle by the club's finish to the 2012 season.

"They went forward in leaps and bounds," the 2006 NAB AFL Rising Star said.

"The Geelong final was what swayed me across.

"To see how well they played and how good they're going to be, I thought I'd like to get over there and help out in any way."

Nathan Schmook is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Nathan