When Josh Treacy embarked on his AFL career in 2021, perhaps his biggest strength was also his biggest weakness.

Treacy arrived as an 18-year-old key forward in the rookie draft, playing in a role that arguably requires the most time and patience to get to AFL standard.

It would have been reasonable for Treacy to need at least a year in the system to make his AFL debut, but the determined Treacy broke into the team in round four and played 15 games in 2021.

That same determination helped Treacy get drafted without playing much football in his draft year due to Covid, instead spending the year working on his strength and fitness.

In 2022, Treacy endured a tough run with injury and a bout of glandular fever. He also missed out at the selection table with the emergence of Jye Amiss, and played just four games.

A strong 2023 pre-season saw him selected in round one against St Kilda, managing three disposals and a goal, before being omitted.

That omission led to a discussion with forwardline assistant coach Jaymie Graham, which has set the now 20-year-old on a journey that goes beyond his innate desire to work hard on his football.

“Obviously round one didn't go my way and fortunately we changed things,” Treacy told the Final Siren podcast with Duck and Oz.

“It hasn't just been a football thing in my aspect. I've done a lot of work with Neil, our Club psyc, and me and JG (Graham) had a chat, and came to the realisation that my expectations were really high.”

Growing up in Cohuna, three hours drive north of Melbourne, Treacy was accustomed to making do with limited resources.

“Being a country kid and not being exposed to those sorts of resources, probably my thing was 'I don't need to talk to anyone',” Treacy said.

“I do have a chat once a week, not necessarily to get anything off my chest, just someone to talk to. A lot of the time we're talking about golf and cricket and a few other things.

“Having someone different to talk to, to look at a different aspect of the game - I think that's put me in a really good headspace over the last five weeks.”

That new headspace has meant Treacy didn’t need to play at the highest level to get satisfaction from performing his craft.

After his omission following the St Kilda game, he played four WAFL games with Peel before eventually making his way back into the Fremantle side against Hawthorn in round eight.

“Before I come back into the AFL, the most fun I've had playing footy were my few games at Peel,” Treacy said.

“Not that I lost my love for the game, but just found an extra pep in my step.

“Then having the confidence of the Club backing me in again, it was really good.”

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