FREMANTLE star Michael Walters insists his modified training program is simply precautionary as he manages the knee issue which troubled him last season.
Walters played the majority of 2018 dealing with pain in his left knee after tangling with West Coast defender Brad Sheppard in the round six Western Derby.
The electric Docker only missed two matches after damaging a ligament which supports his kneecap, however he has been training with the rehab group this pre-season.
Despite being on a restricted workload, Walters has been running freely and is confident his 2019 preparations won't be impacted.
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"I'm feeling fit. I put in the hard work over the off-season (break)," Walters told AFL.com.au.
"Being a young group, the club is making sure that I'm not going to get back in and end up sore again and miss another couple of weeks.
"There's definitely no soreness. I could train now if I wanted to but the club's just being cautious and easing me in.
"It's a long pre-season, so just making sure I don't do any more damage.
"I've just got to wait and see after Christmas and hopefully get some ball work in then.
"I've been hearing that I had surgery, but I can tell you right now I had no surgery."
Despite also missing two games with a hamstring issue and through suspension last season, Walters still finished eighth in the Doig Medal and won Freo's goalkicking with 22 majors.
The 27-year-old denied his knee was a major hindrance during matches, however it restricted his preparation.
"I'd be kidding myself if I said there wasn't pain – there was a little bit of pain," Walters said.
"But throughout the week were good for managing me throughout that and just getting me up for games and once you start playing all the pain (goes) and the adrenalin kicks in, so you don't really feel anything.
"I was sore after games but not bad."
Walters is hoping for an injury-free season after a torn PCL – also in his left knee – cut short his brilliant 2017 campaign at round 18.
Veteran teammate Stephen Hill is also being handled cautiously after experiencing more discomfort with his troublesome left quad while kicking.
The 28-year-old only managed 13 appearances last season due to repeat soft-tissue problems.
Hill returned to pre-season early before suffering the setback and missed Freo's team photo shoot on Monday to undergo rehab.
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"People might call it a little setback, but there's no doubt he's going to come back and work his butt off again," Walters said.
"I was training with him in the off-season and he was moving pretty well.
"Most people would get pretty frustrated, but he's pretty good."
While the vast majority of Fremantle's list is in full training, big-name recruit Jesse Hogan is still recovering from the navicular stress fracture in his right foot.
However, there was a positive step for the ex-Melbourne forward this week when he resumed running.
"The club has been cautious with him as well," Walters said.
"With Jesse he came across and we all know what he can do on the footy field, we just need to get him out there and he stays out there."
