Fremantle is building a strong core of young leaders heading into the 2017 season, according to experienced defender Lee Spurr.
As a member of Fremantle’s leadership group, Spurr highlighted that players outside the group were displaying what it takes to be a leader in the future.
“We’ve certainly seen some young players come along,” Spurr said.
“There’s the emergence of Lachie Neale and Stephen Hill – who just keeps stacking performances and improving, while Alex Peace had some really good performances last year too.
“So there’s a lot of young players that are displaying great qualities.”
The importance of this young group could not be understated, with Spurr leaning on the words of the retired Matthew Pavlich to stress that great leaders aren’t created overnight.
“Leadership’s something you learn, you don’t just all of a sudden wake up and be a leader,” Spurr said.
“Even when you’re in there you’re still learning. That’s what Pav said, he said he was still learning year-on-year on how to improve and be a better leader, so there’s plenty of young players that can put their hands up.”
With Alex Pearce impressing, Spurr gave an update on the 22-year-old defender who broke his leg in round 9 against Richmond.
Spurr said Pearce has been progressing well after spending some of his off-season in the US alongside Nat Fyfe, looking into ways they could best recover from their leg injuries.
“He’s rehabbing really well, I’ve only seen bits and pieces of him but he’s looking very fit,” Spurr said.
“He went away and did that training trip overseas with Fyfey, so he’s giving himself every chance and not leaving any stone unturned.
“I’m not sure when he’s ready, but he’ll be out there and he’s itching to get back out on the track and train with the boys.”
After returning from the Christmas break with a time trial in sweltering conditions on Wednesday, Spurr was talking ahead of the club’s first main session of 2017 – and expected to see the group ramp up with Fremantle’s JLT Community Series opener on 25 February fast approaching.
“We’re going to go out there (today) and do our first session really post the off-season break,” Spurr said.
“We’re going to start diving into more football and get a bit more competitive, and those things you really try to ramp up and get ready for the pre-season series and round one.
“We had really gruelling conditions on Wednesday for the time trial. We saw some really good times and results from players. It shows that over the break, everyone bought in and really did their program and got to work.”
