FREMANTLE big man Michael Apeness has signed a one-year contract to see him committed to the club until the end of 2019.

Apeness, 23, has played the Dockers' past five games to take his career tally to 12.

He was drafted at No.17 in 2013, and from that crop, Brisbane livewire Lewis Taylor notched up his 100th game last week.

Knee injuries have kept him sidelined for large parts of 2015-17.

"It's really good to sign on," Apeness told fremantlefc.com.au.

"I've obviously had a few injuries over my first couple of years but it's great to be playing footy in the seniors at the moment, and I'm glad the club signed me on."

Apeness can also go into the ruck and has needed to at times with Aaron Sandilands and Sean Darcy having dealt with their own injury concerns.

"For most of my career, I've been a forward but (the coaches) see me more as a forward/ruck," Apeness said.

"It's good that I can add that rucking ability to my game.

"Obviously, I'm reasonably tall so just being able to build my ruck craft as well as playing forward, can help the team.

"I haven't done much ruck work in the first couple of years so I'm just trying to build that into my game."