UNTRIED youngster Tom North shapes a dark horse to debut early in 2019 as Fremantle searches for midfield help for skipper Nat Fyfe, according to rising star Adam Cerra.
The Dockers copped a savage blow when Connor Blakely went down with a three-month hamstring tear last week, compounding Stephen Hill (quad) and Lachie Neale's (Brisbane) absences.
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Hill is back running and was kicking a tennis ball at training on Friday, however the silky veteran won't be available before round three.
Blakely will miss at least the opening month and the Dockers could field a relatively inexperienced engine room against North Melbourne in the season opener.
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Cerra has trained mainly across half-back in match simulation this summer, but the classy second-year Docker and Andy Brayshaw could be needed to shoulder more midfield responsibility early in the campaign.
Despite concerns over Freo's onball depth, Cerra was confident in the club's stocks, and tipped former Eastern Ranges teammate North, pick 65 in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft, as an unheralded type who could grab an opportunity.
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The 19-year-old averaged almost 19 disposals in 11 games for Peel last year, and has a rare ability to find the ball in traffic.
"Andy, Brett Bewley is coming in, Stef Giro, Tom North who hasn’t been revealed yet is a solid midfielder and myself. There are still plenty of players who can roll through that role and help to fill it (midfield gaps)," Cerra said.
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"I have played with Tom since under-15s pretty much having grown up near him in Melbourne.
"He is a big-bodied inside midfielder who has a knack of always finding the ball. He has a lot to show when he finally makes his debut I reckon.
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"Last year he had a few injuries and was trying to get that match fitness up to the level.
"He has been doing full pre-season this year and hopefully sometime this year he can break into the team."
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Cerra had a delayed start to pre-season after pulling up sore from a long 21-game first AFL campaign, but the former No.5 draft pick is feeling fit and strong.
"I've seen photos of me when I first came in and I was quite skinny and young, so I feel more mature and capable of playing at the level of AFL," he said.
"I've probably added three or four kilograms since the end of the season.
"It was a bit frustrating last year, obviously coming off the shoulder (surgery), I think I missed all the training before Christmas and was a bit behind the group.
"But this year I'm with the group, full fitness and looking forward for a big year."
Cerra's strapped right shoulder was tested at Cockburn on Friday when he was slammed to the turf in a brutal tackle by giant young ruckman Sean Darcy.
Cerra took time to gather himself before rejoining match simulation and his decision-making in defence shone during two 12-minute halves in stifling 37-degree heat.
Superboot half-back Nathan Wilson was also excellent and nailed a 55m goal on the run, while tall forward Matt Taberner's workrate was outstanding.
Boom recruit Jesse Hogan (navicular) didn't take part in the full-ground work but his athleticism and ability to work off his man with multiple leads was a highlight of confined-space matchplay.
Hogan powered through gruelling running to finish the two-and-a-half-hour session.
Harley Bennell completed some running and kicking work after experiencing calf tightness last week.
Hayden Ballantyne (calf), Ethan Hughes and Luke Valente were also on modified running programs, while Aaron Sandilands (calf), Shane Kersten (foot) and Cam McCarthy weren't on the track.
