Fremantle forward Michael Apeness hopes a full pre-season will help him out in his second season of AFL.

The club’s first pick from the 2013 National Draft had a compromised first pre-season at the elite level.

“Last year I was in rehab, so I wasn’t in the drills,” he said.

But it’s a different story this year for the 199cm 20-year-old.

“I haven’t really missed a session and it’s going well,” Apeness said.

The former Eastern Ranges player said the pre-season had been tough, but he was enjoying it.

“It’s been pretty hot,” he said.

“They work you hard, but it helps you during the season.”

He has been working closely with forward line coach Peter Sumich and the rest of the club’s forwards.

“I’ve been working with ‘Suma’ on leading patterns,” Apeness said.

“All the forwards get together and watch footage and then work it out on the track.”

Apeness can’t wait for the season proper to start, and his goals are simple ones.

“Do my best, get better and help the team,” he said.