STAR Fremantle recruit Jaeger O'Meara says he can't help but feel embarrassed when people rate him as a like-for-like replacement for champion Docker David Mundy.

Mundy retired at the end of last season following a glittering 376-game career.

The 37-year-old's elite skillset and decision-making stood him above the pack, and he will be remembered as one of the greatest ever players to pull on a Dockers jersey.

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Matthew Lloyd and Damian Barrett farewell Fremantle champion David Mundy on Access All Areas

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O'Meara's arrival at Fremantle will help offset the loss of Mundy, given both are big-bodied midfielders.

But O'Meara, who has played 143 games across stints at Gold Coast and Hawthorn, doesn't feel he has earned the right to be talked about in the same bracket as Mundy.

"I've been a little bit embarrassed with the David Mundy talk and me coming in and filling his role," O'Meara told the club's website.

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"I've watched David's career and he's been an unbelievable player at the Freo footy club and will go down as one of the best to play for the club.

"So I've been a little bit embarrassed with that chat (that I can replace him)."

Jaeger O'Meara during the practice match between Port Adelaide and Fremantle on March 2, 2023. Picture: AFL Photos

O'Meara was forced to spend large stints up forward at Hawthorn last year after coach Sam Mitchell opted for youth in the midfield.

Fremantle already boasts plenty of young rising stars in its midfield in the form of Caleb Serong, Andrew Brayshaw and Will Brodie.

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And with Nat Fyfe now a permanent forward, the Dockers are embracing O'Meara's presence as an experienced, big-bodied inside midfielder.

It's a role O'Meara is keen to play.

"I played a fair bit forward at Hawthorn last year, which was a great experience for me," the 29-year-old said.

"But I guess getting back to what I do best - that's inside the contest.

"The majority of my time here in the pre-season I've played as an inside mid, a little bit up forward and a little bit on the wing.

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"But I see most of my game time as an inside mid."

O'Meara has made such a big early impact at Fremantle that he was included in their leadership group under new skipper Alex Pearce.