Lachie Neale needs more than his strength and fitness to be ready for round one, says assistant coach Mark Stone.

After undergoing shoulder, wrist and knee surgery in the off-season, Neale is fit and ready to get back out on the field – but still needs is the chance to test is body in some live contests before Fremantle open the home and away season against Geelong on 26 March.

This highlights the importance of Neale playing in Saturday’s JLT Community Series clash against Collingwood at Rushton Park in Mandurah.

“Lachie’s at full fitness, but obviously there’s games…and you just can’t replicate games at training,” Stone said.

“As much as you try and have match sim and things like that, you’re not getting full tackle, you’re not getting full collision and full contests.

“These are important games for him, and for all of our players, to get game minutes in now in the pre-season to prepare them for round one.”

“We like our players to be as match hardened as possible, and by match hardened we mean they’ve had real contests and played real games in the lead-up to round one. 

“Lachie’s fitness levels are fine, but it’s just now getting that match hardness.” 

Neale was a ball magnet in his 2016 Doig Medal winning season, where he racked up an AFL record 737 possessions. Stone said he had no problems with Neale being thrown back into the thick of it.

“We’ll work through (Neale’s role) at final match committee,” Stone said. 

“He’s an inside mid, that’s where he plays his best footy, he likes the contest.

"That’s where he’s produced his best footy and best roles for us and that’s where he’s likely to play.”