MATURE-AGE rookie Bailey Banfield has "come from nowhere" to be in line for a round one debut, Fremantle assistant coach Michael Prior says.
Banfield was one of the Dockers' best during Sunday's 29-point practice match win over West Coast, booting three majors and showing strong tackling intent as a hard-working half-forward.
Banfield's emergence, coupled with Brandon Matera's arrival, is piling pressure on goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne to retain his spot.
The 20-year-old built on an impressive JLT Community Series debut against Adelaide and is right in the mix to face Port Adelaide in the season-opener.
"He's come from nowhere, Bailey. It's a great story, a tagger down at Claremont, won a best and fairest, has come into our side and has played a pressure forward role and is kicking goals as well," Prior said.
"We were really impressed with him the last couple of weeks.
"He's pressing his case for round one."
After a quiet performance against the Crows, veteran Ballantyne had little influence on Sunday's contest against West Coast before being rested for the second half.
"(Ballantyne) has had a really great summer for us as far as training goes. He hasn't had the results in the last two weeks on the field," Prior said.
"But I thought his second quarter today was pretty good. We made a few adjustments at quarter-time to the way we wanted him to play.
"He got on the end of a few balls and just fumbled a little bit, so he's still building."
With the Dockers determined to become harder to play against, Prior backed Ballantyne to play a key part in ramping up the side's forward pressure.
"I think we know what we're going to get from Ballas. Sometimes it's not always about kicks, marks and handballs," he said.
"That pressure is really important and he's a key component to that down there.
"He's an experienced player and we need those guys up and going."
The Dockers didn't trial Aaron Sandilands and protégé Sean Darcy together in the same side on Sunday and it appears unlikely the big men will be partnered for round one.
"Whether we can get away with that, time will tell," Prior said.
"We need to have a look at them in the one team. But the way it's going these days a lot of teams are playing that key forward as a second ruck."
The Dockers face West Coast again next Sunday at Joondalup in the clubs' final pre-season hit-out, with superstar skipper Nat Fyfe certain to return.
Silky onballer Stephen Hill is racing the clock to get some match minutes ahead of round one after quad and calf issues.
"If he misses next week, he'll only just miss," Prior said.
"That's a decision we'll have to make (if he could then play round one) but if anyone at our footy club has runs on the board he'll be right up there."
