Ross Lyon believes Michael Walters could play AFL this week if he was asked to, but the WAFL will be his pathway back into the Freo team.

Walters has not played since injuring his ankle in round 3 against Hawthorn.

He will play for Peel Thunder against South Fremantle at Fremantle Oval on Saturday, with bounce down at 2.05pm.

Lyon said he would have loved to play the brilliant forward against Geelong on Saturday night, even off such a long break.                                              

“I played Steven Baker, 14 weeks out, straight into in a Grand Final against Collingwood, and he was magnificent,” the senior coach said.

“‘Son Son’ could do that, but to be fair to him we’ve got some time up our sleeve to do the right thing by him.

“I implore everyone to go down and watch him (play for Peel) and hopefully we’ll be able to select him, on form, the week after.”

Lyon added Walters had trained the house down over the course of his long rehab.

It was yet another indication of the 23-year-old’s growth since he was sent back to WAFL level for failing to meet the standards required of an AFL player back in early 2012.

“People talk about turnaround stories, and we all know the story, but it’s more than a 360, it’s a 720,” Lyon said.

“He’s an absolute training animal. He can really run and work with the best of them.

“He’s a special young man.”