FREMANTLE forward Shane Kersten is back in full training following a bout of food poisoning, but defender Joel Hamling was still absent from the track on Wednesday after also being struck down by a dodgy pizza.

In the latest episode in Freo's eventful pre-season, the prized recruits and close mates were sidelined from main training last week after eating pizza from a local restaurant. 

Former Western Bulldogs premiership defender Hamling's illness was serious enough for him to be admitted to hospital, although the 23-year-old has since returned to the club on light duties. 

But ex-Geelong goalkicker Kersten showed no ill-effects as he joined in match practice on Wednesday.

"They were out (of action) for a while, but they're both back at the club now and looking really good and getting back to it," teammate Tommy Sheridan said. 

Hayden Ballantyne was also back at Fremantle Oval after travelling to Japan on a business trip last week, but the small forward was held out of match practice and completed extra running around the boundary.

The Dockers were put through their paces in a full-ground hit-out in the early part of Wednesday's training before the session was closed to media. 

Recruit Cam McCarthy impressed with his work rate and finished-off with a goal after a strong mark inside 50, while superstar onballer Nat Fyfe continued to switch between playing deep forward and midfield. 

Half-back Sheridan is also building more flexibility into his game this pre-season by training to play alongside the likes of Fyfe, David Mundy and Connor Blakely as an inside midfielder. 

"When I was at the draft camp, I tensed my arms up and tried to puff up like an inside mid, but I was actually a bit of a scrawny little fella, so I had to go outside for a couple of years," Sheridan said. 

"But inside mid I do feel quite natural, but also outside as well. This is my sixth year now, so I've done a fair bit of time on the wing as well and at half-back. 

"It's exciting playing inside and learning off the blokes that I play around, there's some handy types in there." 

Following the departures of some experienced Dockers at the end of a disastrous four-win 2016 campaign, Sheridan declared it's time for Freo's maturing players to lead the club's revival this season.

"You can’t buy experience, and every year in the system you do gain a bit more confidence," the 23-year-old said. 

"I definitely think from our draft year (in 2011), you saw Lachie Neale last year have a great year, and Cam Sutcliffe is so solid down back too. 

"Lee Spurr was in my draft and he’s obviously a well-respected member in the leadership group, but I think it’s time for us to step up again."