Best 22 – round one

B: Lee Spurr, Joel Hamling, Zac Dawson
HB: Cam Sutcliffe, Michael Johnson, Lachie Weller
C: Stephen Hill, David Mundy, Bradley Hill
HF: Ed Langdon, Shane Kersten, Danyle Pearce
F: Michael Walters, Cam McCarthy, Jonathon Griffin
Foll: Aaron Sandilands, Nat Fyfe, Lachie Neale
I/C: Connor Blakely, Garrick Ibbotson, Darcy Tucker, Hayden Crozier 

Injury list

Losing Hayden Ballantyne (hamstring) for two months puts extra pressure on Cam McCarthy and Michael Walters to impact the scoreboard. Freo's forward depth took another hit when Michael Apeness (knee) went down in a WAFL practice game, while young defender Alex Pearce (fractured leg) and ruckman Zac Clarke (knee) probably won't be seen until the second half of the year. Fans have their fingers crossed Harley Bennell (calf) makes his long-awaited club debut soon. 

The big questions

Can the Dockers bounce back into finals contention?
They are expected to be far more competitive with Nat Fyfe and Aaron Sandilands back from injury plus the arrival of four mature-age recruits. But Freo is coming from a long way back after a disastrous four-win campaign. Ross Lyon says the club has a "dual narrative" this season of aiming for the top eight amid a four-year rebuild. It will be fascinating to watch how that unfolds.

Will Nat Fyfe re-sign?
The new skipper is leading the club into a fresh era and views his long-term future at Freo, so the smart money is on him sticking around. But Fyfe would attract some monster offers if he chooses to explore free agency at season's end. Freo's outlook for success could be a decisive factor.

Can Harley Bennell get on the park?
After being sidelined for the entire 2016 campaign and then suffering a fresh setback in November, the ex-Suns star flew to Germany for specialist treatment and has progressed well since. He is aiming to finally make his return at some level within the first six rounds.

Look for…

The Dockers have gone back to basics after leaking 96 points per game – 25 more than in 2015 – during last year's torrid campaign. This pre-season Freo has focused on fitness, intensity and becoming a more cohesive unit. Expect to see a hardworking outfit more in tune with Ross Lyon's trademark coaching philosophy this season. 

Who they play

A challenging start should give fans an idea how much Freo has improved. Facing the Cats (home), Power (away), Dogs (home), Demons (away), Roos (home) and West Coast (away) will be an early test. It gets slightly easier in the six weeks leading up to the round 13 bye before a tough run home. Geelong is the only top-six team from last season the Dockers face twice, with double-ups against West Coast, Richmond, Essendon and North Melbourne. Avoiding trips to Darwin and Tasmania is a bonus.

Fantasy cash cow

After a year out of the game, Cam McCarthy's fantasy price ($211,000) is rock bottom for a player of his talent. The former Giant will spearhead Freo's forward line, has shaken off some rust in three pre-season series appearances and, as he showed bagging six goals against Carlton, can hit the scoreboard if he's given enough opportunities. 

Sudden impact

All four of Freo's mature-age recruits are set to play in round one. Triple-premiership wingman Bradley Hill has been the most impressive across the JLT Community Series with his dash and elite disposal coming from the Hawthorn system. Joel Hamling quickly found his feet down back after playing in the Bulldogs' flag and McCarthy should take some confidence into round one. Former Cats goalkicker Shane Kersten hasn't set the world on fire yet but should be given time in the early rounds to settle.  

It's crunch time for…

Hayden Ballantyne. The 29-year-old has spoken about getting back to his 2014 All Australian form after two modest campaigns by his standards and was tracking well until he ripped his hamstring tendon in the JLT Community Series. Out of contract at the end of the season, the feisty small forward will want a strong second half of the year. 

Pressure rating on the coach

'The Boss' won't be tossed. The Dockers are fully committed to their four-year rebuild and, with Ross Lyon contracted until 2020, the senior coach has time to turn the ship around. 

The Dockers will have a good year if…

Their youngsters continue to develop and their mature-age recruits deliver – especially talented forward McCarthy and speedster Bradley Hill, who are already among Freo's most important players. 

They're in trouble if …

Aaron Sandilands and/or Nat Fyfe miss large chunks of the season through injury. Their combination around stoppages is still crucial to Freo's fortunes.

Pass mark

The Dockers might be aiming for the top eight, but it's difficult to count finals as a pass mark after last year's slide down the ladder to 16th. Winning 8-10 games would be a good starting point, with anything on top of that a bonus. Fans want to see development from the kids and clear direction in the rebuild. 

AFL.com.au predicted ladder finish

13th. Freo should improve, but so will many of their rivals for a finals berth, and the Dockers need plenty to go right to feature in September.

Player Ratings star

Nat Fyfe, 29th. This time last year Fyfe was the No.1 ranked player in the game coming off his stunning 2015 Brownlow Medal triumph. The superstar has tumbled down the order after re-breaking his leg in round five, but is now in terrific nick and hungry to get back to his best.

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