Fremantle recruit James Aish feels he plays his best football on the wing and has put his hand up to fill one of the vacant roles left open at Fremantle from the 2019 NAB AFL Trade Period.

Aish joined Fremantle from Collingwood in the off-season and is hopeful of stepping up after the departures of Bradley Hill and Ed Langdon.

The 24-year-old played primarily as a defender at Collingwood but feels he has what it takes to run on the outside with Freo.

“I think I’m looking at the wing to start with but I can go down back, depending on the needs of the team that week,” Aish said.

“With Freo losing a couple of wingers it opens up a spot there. I’ve played good footy there before and, hopefully, I can have a good pre-season and start the season well there.”

Aish commenced his pre-season on Monday with his fellow five-plus year players, but like many of his new teammates, he made an early return to the club over the past fortnight.

He said the team was embracing working under new coach Justin Longmuir, who also coached Aish during their time at Collingwood.

“I think the guys are pretty refreshed and excited with the new coach around,” Aish said.

“To be honest, the older boys have been through the past few weeks as well, so there weren’t too many new faces today.

“I think everyone is feeling really good and they’re excited and I think everyone has come back looking good.”

After being taken by Brisbane at pick no.7 in the 2013 National Draft, Aish played 32 games for the Lions between 2014 and 2015 and 50 games for Collingwood between 2016 and 2019.

The South Australian said he’s getting used to settling into a new state and a new club.

“There’s the initial phase where you have to make your impressions again, fit in and get used to slightly different things in the programs, that sort of stuff,” Aish said.

“Every club is a little bit different but at the end of the day, everyone is aiming for the same thing and club’s are largely the same.

“(I know) a couple of ex-Norwood players from my team back in SA, Stef Giro and Luke Valente. I had a little bit of junior football training with Hoges (Jesse Hogan), that’s about it.

“But it’s a group of players trying to get better so it’s quite easy…the players are good people and easy to get around."