After a stand out performance for Peel Thunder on the weekend, Fremantle defender Peter Faulks said it was just good to get out and play football again.

The 194cm defender had missed five games straight battling injury and played only his sixth game for the season in Peel’s lost to East Perth at Medibank Stadium on Saturday.  

Faulks said that at the start of the year he was struggling to get through games pain free.

“I had a bi-lateral hernia repair last year” he said.

“It was quite painful, I would try and play early on in the year, but I was struggling to get through the game.

“Now my body feels really good, it was a real big confidence boost to get through the game unscathed.

Senior development and assistant coach Simon Lloyd said Faulks’ game last Saturday was a step in the right direction.

“After being out for five weeks, Peter had his best performance for the season,” he said.

“He beat his opponents and played with enthusiasm and bounce and demonstrated really good effort.

“We were very happy with his body language and his positioning as well as his offensive run.

“It was a very pleasing game for somebody who has been working solidly in the rehab program for a period of time.”

Admitting his time in rehab was frustrating, Faulks said there were times when he had doubted himself.

“I played some really good football last year. My first two or three games this season were quite solid and then once the niggling of the injury came back it was quite frustrating,” he said.

“I probably dropped my head a little bit and it was quite frustrating and I just felt that I couldn't really get it right.

“But it was good to bounce back on the weekend.

“From a team point of view it was disappointing, but I know what I need to do, which is just compete each week and try and beat my man.”

The 25-year-old has been working with development coach Roger Hayden throughout the year and his main focus has been on playing consistent football.

“For me it’s all about effort, just making sure I make second and third efforts and defend first, and then run off and create,” he said.

“It was good to get out and play footy and have an impact in the game, and have something to build on.

“I want to focus on playing consistent football, like I was last year.

“I want to break into the side and I need to keep knocking on the door.”