FOR BRAD Lloyd, the Fremantle recruiter who snared rookie sensation Michael Barlow in December, the last two weeks have been a reminder of why his job is so rewarding.

After Barlow's stunning 33-possession debut against Adelaide in round one, Melbourne-based Lloyd took the chance to watch the mature-age recruit live in his second AFL match last Sunday.

What he saw was a game-shaping third quarter in which Barlow won 16 of his 34 possessions to shift the momentum Fremantle's way and set up the club's drought-breaking Etihad Stadium win over Essendon.

Lloyd and his team had plucked the 22-year-old from VFL club Werribee to join Fremantle's midfield, and watching him work with All-Australian ruckman Aaron Sandilands was very pleasing.

"I think that's the most enjoyable part of the role for any recruiting manager, to see certain players at under-18 level or state league level and to then see them perform really well on the big stage," Lloyd told afl.com.au.

"Our hopes were that he'd be able to come into the midfield and team up with the guys we've got currently in there and to capitalise on someone like Aaron Sandilands.

"To find a tall midfielder who could find the footy at stoppages was the main focus for Michael coming into the club."

Finding the football is exactly what Barlow has done in his two senior games. He leads the club for first possession from a stoppage (17) and contested possessions (22), and his numbers on debut set a new record with Champion Data, which started recording official statistics in 1992.

For midfield coach Barry Mitchell, who noted the importance of Barlow's third quarter against Essendon and his contested ball-winning ability, the key statistic is his player's two games.

"I think what we're trying to do with Mick is not get too carried away," Mitchell said. "He's had two good games and he's handled everything quite well.

"One of the main things is being able to deal with the increase in intensity, both with and without the ball, and so far he's shown that he's not out of his depth.

"He's still got to get a bit stronger, but from where he's come from he's done very well."

So where has Barlow come from? And how did he land at Fremantle after training stints with St Kilda and, most recently, Essendon?

Lloyd said he couldn't speak for opposition clubs, but what his recruiting team saw last year was a quality individual who simply didn't put in bad performances on the field.

A club best and fairest, the Fothergill-Round Medal as the league's best young player and an endorsement from Lloyd's father were further evidence that Barlow deserved a chance at AFL level.

"My father, John, actually presented him with his medal at the Werribee best and fairest last year and commented on what a great character he was and how highly regarded he was down at Werribee," Lloyd, the older brother of Essendon champion Matthew, said.

"He was brought into our Melbourne office, we interviewed him and he was outstanding.

"He was just so grateful to be given the opportunity by the footy club and you could just see that he wasn't the type of person to take that for granted."

Lloyd and Mitchell agree that Barlow, while undoubtedly a gifted athlete, is foremost a natural footballer and the way the game is being played in 2010 suits him.

"I think there's no doubt at the moment you need players who are football smart, it becomes a priority," Lloyd said.

"While that slipped down the pecking order in recent years it can be varied within different footy clubs.

"You've obviously got to have a number of attributes - elite running capacity, endurance, footy smarts and being able to use the ball in a constructive way. I think he's shown all of that to date.

"It's been a great start to his career and hopefully he can maintain it."