AFTER an injury-riddled start to his career, Fremantle defender Nick Suban has a simple goal for the 2012 season: "Play the majority of the year and play consistent footy".

Suban, who suffered a broken leg last season and a serious ankle injury in 2010, will play his 50th game on Saturday, against the Sydney Swans at the SCG, and it is a milestone he hopes will signify a change of fortune.

The 21-year-old was sidelined for 11 matches last season after breaking his leg in round four, but he enjoyed an uninterrupted pre-season this year and was impressive in Fremantle's round one win over Geelong.

Slotting in across half-back, where his penetrating and accurate kick will be an asset, Suban said it was time for him to step up and put the injuries behind him.

"The goal this year is to be fit and available and hopefully I can play the majority of the year and play consistent footy," he said this week.

"There have been a few ups and downs there with a couple of years with injuries, but it's good to finally get to 50.

"I'm feeling really fit and strong, and I'm really looking forward to the season."

Like the majority of his teammates, Suban ran a personal best 3km time trial this pre-season and he acknowledged that he "really needed to step it up in that area".

"To play in the positions I play in you have to run a lot, so it's been a big focus," he said. "That and working hard in the gym and trying to get as strong as I can."

Suban said he felt the benefits of his strong pre-season against the Cats last Saturday night, racking up 19 disposals and five tackles while playing in the backline. 

Despite his attacking strengths, he will also be a lockdown option against small forwards for coach Ross Lyon this season and he said that side of his game was developing.

"Running and trying to get the ball and create is probably one of my strengths, and my kicking, so I try and get the ball as much as I can and try and create," he said. 

"But I started to play back a bit more last year and I'm slowly getting used to it.

"We've got a lot of good defenders to teach me, like Luke McPharlin, so it's been really good."

Suban, who was recruited with selection No.24 in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft, is the fourth Fremantle player from his draft crop to reach 50 games, following No.3 pick Stephen Hill (68 games) and former rookies Greg Broughton (54) and Matt de Boer (54).

Hayden Ballantyne, who was selected with pick No.21, has played 45 games, while young ruckman Zac Clarke (No.37) appears ready to play more senior football after 21 games in his first three seasons.

Suban said it was shaping as a good draft group for Fremantle, and they would all be expected to take on more responsibility this season.
 
"Coming in as 18-year-olds we all wanted to try and make an impact straight away, and being fourth-year now it's probably time we really stood up," he said.

"We're really close and really good mates and we want to get the best out of ourselves and the best for Freo as well.

"In previous years we've relied on too few and we just want to help Aaron [Sandilands] and Matthew [Pavlich] and not rely on them week-in, week-out."

Nathan Schmook covers Fremantle news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Nathan