Matt de Boer credits training with two elite middle-distance runners over the break for his strong results at the start of Fremantle’s pre-season.

The tough midfielder was among the most impressive performers in the 3km time trial back in early December.

He pushed the club’s middle-distance king Tendai Mzungu all the way, running a personal best on the way.

“He got me in the end,” de Boer said.

De Boer revealed the pair were working closely to help each other maximise their performances.

“Tendai and I were training partners over the break and we found that every session we went down we really pushed each other right to the very last metre,” de Boer said.

“Running the 3km time trial with him was interesting.

“We had a bit of a tactic to wax off each other and draft off each other.”

De Boer and Mzungu also tapped into Matt’s older brother Chris, an elite runner who has represented the country at international level.

“Training with my older brother, who was a pretty handy middle distance runner from back in the day, really helped us work on the middle distance stuff over the break,” de Boer said.

De Boer experienced a frustrating 2014 season, mainly because of injury, but he is determined to return to regular AFL play in Freo’s midfield in 2015.

“I’m really looking forward to that challenge,” he said.

“I’m working closer with (assistant coaches) Brett Kirk and Mark Stone in this pre-season than in years gone by.

“I’m going to stay fit and really put some pressure on the guys in the midfield.”