RYLEY Dunn is looking to repay Fremantle for the second chance he has received starting against North Melbourne at Subiaco Oval tomorrow.

Dunn came to Fremantle with the 10th pick in the 2003 National Draft, but shoulder, knee and hamstring injuries kept him to just five games over four years.

He lost his place on Fremantle's list at the end of 2007, but was taken in the rookie draft and now gets another chance to prove his worth.

"I've been working towards this since I got put on the rookie list and I'm not too worried about getting promoted, I just want to play AFL football," Dunn said.

"Hopefully I can play good football on Saturday and hold my spot in the side with some good form. I see any game as an opportunity and I'm grateful to get the chance. I'll now work hard to get the best out of myself for the rest of the year."

Dunn was obviously concerned his AFL career might be over when delisted at the end of last year, but feels it served to make him hungrier to succeed.

"I was disappointed at the time and it came as a bit of a shock, but I've been through quite a bit with my football and I wasn’t giving up," he said.

"The hard times do make you stronger and my injuries made me realise how much I like football and how much I want to succeed."

With East Fremantle in the WAFL, Dunn has played all over the ground, but mostly as a permanent forward in the last two seasons. He is quick, good on the lead and has a big vertical leap, so he could be just what the Fremantle forward line needs now that he has his body right.

"I put on a bit too much weight when I was young, which led to me breaking down a couple of times," he said.

"I get big really easy when I do weights and in my first couple of years I grew a lot, but now I don’t worry about the weights, I just do aerobic stuff to get my fitness up and that works for me."