TALL forward Cam McCarthy's return to football after a year away from the game is one of several intriguing storylines surrounding Fremantle leading into next season.

And in a positive sign, the prized recruit is already impressing with his appetite for hard work at training.

McCarthy repeatedly pushed himself to present a target during match simulation last Friday, while former Cat Shane Kersten completed some taxing running on the sidelines as he builds towards full fitness.

Together, they will form part of a new-look Dockers forward line in the post-Matthew Pavlich era.

"Kersten hasn't really been in the main squad as he's been in rehab, but he works pretty hard and likewise for Cam," goalsneak Michael Walters told the club's website.

"He's (McCarthy) a big strong forward and he'll be good to help out (Matt) Taberner as well.

"He's played a few games and he's kicked a few goals, and he's that bigger, stronger body for Ballas (Hayden Ballantyne) and me to crumb off."

McCarthy hasn't featured at AFL level since round 23, 2015 after sitting out last season due to homesickness and some mental health issues.

But the 192cm forward looks set to add firepower to the Dockers after booting 36 goals in 21 games for Greater Western Sydney.

Kersten snared 41 majors in 37 appearances for Geelong, and the strong-marking 23-year-old should add versatility to Freo's attack.

Walters, the club's leading goalkicker in the past two seasons, hopes the pair create plenty of headaches for opposition defences.

"I just want to get this team back to where we were around 2013," he said.

"As long as we stick to the basics and work for each other, win some games early on in the season, the goals will come."

Walters shapes as a potential leadership group member when the Dockers cast their votes in the coming weeks.

Aged 26 and with 94 games under his belt, the electric small forward is keen to drive Freo's improvement and has made a point of being vocal on the training track.

"Yeah I'm trying my best," he said.

"It's a pretty young group now, we've got a lot of young boys coming through, we've just recruited some more younger boys as well.

"For me, who's been here for nine years, I want to continue on in a different sort of role, hopefully show a little bit of leadership too."