SEASON 2007 was far from memorable for Fremantle midfielder Paul Hasleby, but his body is feeling the best it has in years as he prepares for a rejuvenated 2008 campaign.
Hasleby has long been the backbone of Fremantle's midfield and is confident of returning to his best this season, and hopefully taking the Dockers back to finals action in the process.
Hasleby missed the club's first intra-club match, but will be right to either play Carlton in Pretoria, South Africa on February 2, or as soon as the club arrives home from the Telstra Community Camp it left for on Sunday.
"For the first time in a long while, the body is feeling fantastic. I missed the game the other day, but that was just due to some tightness," Hasleby, who finished last season in the WAFL, said.
"I fully expect to be ready to go in either South Africa or the first week that we get back. It has been a great pre-season so far and I can't wait for the games to come around."
The game against Carlton is certainly not one to be scoffed at for its importance, as it's a chance for everyone involved to impress new coach Mark Harvey with the likes of Matthew Pavlich, Josh Carr, Dean Solomon, Luke McPharlin, Shaun McManus and Heath Black still in Perth.
"Every game we play for Fremantle Football Club will be full on and there will be guys playing for certain positions in that first NAB Cup game," he said.
"For some guys, it could be their only chance to play all year, so they will be going full bore and for the senior guys it's the chance to get in some form and hit the season running."
Hasleby is unsure if he is playing against the Blues yet and that decision will be made in South Africa. Jeff Farmer did play in the club's intra-club match, but he could also now miss the game at SuperSport Park due a tight hamstring.
"I'm not sure if I'm playing or not yet. I would love to get up and play, but we will have a training run over there and take it from there," he said.
"Jeff is coming. He felt a bit tight during that intra-club game, so we'll also see how he feels over there. He's such an important player for us that we definitely won't take any risks with him."
As for Fremantle's opponents in South Africa, Carlton, they have been the furthest thing from Docker minds, but Hasleby would welcome the challenge if former West Coast star Chris Judd plays for the Blues.
"I have absolutely no idea what Carlton is doing," he said.
"We are a little under-prepared in terms of studying what they've been doing, but it will be a great experience for our young players to play near and around him if he does take the field."
Hasleby is feeling rejuvenated in body and mind coming into 2008 season and a lot of that has to do with what new members of the coaching staff, Chris Bond, Dean Wallis, Michael Prior and Chris Scott have brought to the Dockers.
"It has been a little different. We have got to know a lot of the new assistant coaches, which has been fantastic," he said.
