If he can get through a full pre-season, young midfielder Andrew Brayshaw is hopeful he can step into a full-time inside midfield role in 2020.

Brayshaw, who turns 20 on Friday, feels he’s reaching the fitness and strength required to handle the rigours of the AFL contest.

There could be extra competition for spots in the middle alongside Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe, with Brayshaw also expecting fellow 2017 draftee Adam Cerra to make the step up.

“I think, touch wood no injuries, we get a strong pre-season into us and, hopefully, we can both be in there,” Brayshaw said. 

“I’ve put on a bit of weight. That was probably the main thing when I first came to the club, I was hovering just over 80kg and I’m about 85kg now. 

“I’ve put on a bit of size, most of that through my core and upper body.

“I think physically, I can try my hardest and work inside with the big boys. My fitness is pretty much been there since day one, so I’ve just been building on that and my speed as well.” 

Catch us if you can! Youth to make most of head start

After being hampered a year prior due to his broken jaw, Brayshaw said it would be crucial to get through a full pre-season. 

“Given what happened the year before, last year I came back not in the condition I wanted to be,” Brayshaw said.

“I was a little bit overweight and hadn’t been able to complete all of my program.

“About three weeks ago I was going for a run and felt really good and thought, ‘this year hopefully no injuries, I can give it a red hot crack’. 

“It’s amazing how much difference not being injured can have on a player, so touch wood, this year nothing bad happens.”

More from Brayshaw: 'The dynamic of training has shifted'