Joel Hamling has returned to training early as he nears a full recovery from an ankle injury from last pre-season.
The defender was not officially due back at training until January alongside his fellow five-plus year players.
After missing the entire 2020 season, executive general manager of football Peter Bell told TAB Radio that Hamling showed promising signs ahead of a targeted return in 2021.
“Joel came in and did some skill work on Wednesday,” Bell told TAB Radio.
“He doesn’t really have to be back until January. He did some intro football work and moved really well.
“It’s a steady build and we’re really pleased to have him out on the track, jumping, running and changing directions. That’s really encouraging.”
Fremantle added to their defensive depth on Wednesday in the 2020 NAB AFL National Draft, selecting talented defender Heath Chapman with pick no.14.
“We hope we can get all (of our defenders) fit and firing and that will create a lot of selection headaches,” Bell said
“Intercept marking is really Heath’s forte. He attacks the ball at its highest point.
“He’s really fearless. I think the two best aerialists in this year’s draft were clearly (pick no.6) Denver Grainger-Barras and Heath Chapman, I like the way they attack the footy in the air, it’s really elite.”
Due to Freo’s defensive depth, Bell said Chapman could be utilised elsewhere on the ground.
“Heath was exceptional in the 2km time trial, ranking ninth nationally. He’s a powerful athlete that is a competitor,” Bell said.
“He played a lot of his football in defence but with that athletic profile, there’s scope to explore the idea of playing wing, forward and even after a couple of years perhaps even as an inside mid.
“Having said that, we acknowledge he’s played a lot of his best football in defence.”
