First year ruckman Sean Darcy says he agreed he was ready for a rest after playing six consecutive games following his AFL debut against Geelong in round 14.

Despite some reluctance to give up his spot for Saturday night’s clash with Gold Coast at Domain Stadium, the 19-year-old felt he tired late in last rounds clash with GWS, and could benefit from the break.

Darcy has been a huge positive for Fremantle this year, stepping up in Aaron Sandilands' absence and since the veteran sustained a season-ending injury in round 15 against St Kilda.  

“Everyone wants to play, it’s the best two hours of the week,” Darcy said.

“But I’m a first year player and I’ve been here for eight months. 

“The doctors, physios and Ross - they know what they’re doing so I’ve got to listen to them and do what they say. 

"I tried to challenge it. I tried to say 'oh, are you sure?' I've just got to listen to them and do what they say.

"My body is a bit sore. The intensity, it's a bit quicker, each week I’m getting used to it.

"I did drop-off a bit (against GWS), I was a bit disappointed. I'll have this week off and hopefully be better by next week."

Darcy is an impressive runner for a 201cm and 111kg teenager, but after getting a taste of the big time he knows his conditioning can improve.

"I want to come back (next year) as well as I possibly can, so I'm pretty determined to do that," Darcy said.

"My conditioning coach has just said we just want to get our skinfolds down.

"I can keep the weight on if I can run alright."

Darcy has shown there is ruck hope after Sandilands for the Dockers, although he is thrilled his mentor will play on next season and believes they can play in the same team. 

In their only match together in round 15, Sandilands lasted less than a quarter before suffering a season-ending hamstring tendon tear.

Fremantle is searching for marking targets in attack and Darcy, taken with pick 38 in last year's NAB AFL Draft, hopes to help fill the void by improving his forward craft.

"If I get another pre-season in my belt and hopefully learn my craft up forward I can see that (playing with Sandilands) happening," he said. 

"He sits down every week with me and goes over film and just gives me advice about this is what I would do, this is what he would do.

"Even the last few weeks he's been telling me 'this is what I saw', he's been unreal with me."