MICHAEL BARLOW - ROUND 1 v ADELAIDE
When Michael Barlow walked out onto the middle of Subiaco Oval in round three against Geelong, he knew he had arrived in the big league when Cat captain Cameron Ling went and stood next to him before the first bounce.
To have the reigning premiers send their master stopper to mind a third-gamer spoke volumes about the impact Barlow had made on the AFL in his first two games.
"It was a bit of an eye opener, getting Ling," Barlow said. "In fact, it was a privilege to be on the same field as some of the greatest players to have played the game, like Ablett, Bartel, Selwood and Chapman. To play against them was amazing. It's always good to test yourself against the best."
The following week, against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium, Barlow was manned by Saint Clinton Jones, who is as stingy as it gets when it comes to letting his opponent get the ball. With Jones constantly on his hammer, Barlow struggled to wield an influence on the game, but he learned a valuable lesson.
"I found out that he (Jones) was a bit like a glove," Barlow said. "It was a good experience and if I get Jones again I'll look to use alternative tactics to try and find a bit more space against him."
Getting tagged is something Barlow has become familiar with during his football career. He averaged 30 possessions a game for Werribee in the VFL last year, which meant he was often a target for opposition coaches.
Barlow said being a marked player at that level had helped him to not only get used to being tagged, but to improve on his own defensive mechanisms.
"It's a very accountable game these days, especially at AFL level, so you have to have that defensive side to your game or you are not going to make it at that level," he said.
Barlow said playing AFL was only just starting to sink in, but he still pinched himself every day.
"It's starting to become reality, the day-to-day process of being a professional athlete," he said. "It's becoming routine. Still, running out and playing in front of so many people on the big stage is a bit of an eye opener, but I'm gradually getting used to it."
And he has no regrets at not being picked up by an AFL club at an earlier age.
"Everything happens for a reason," he said. "I suppose starting at a younger age might have been a more spoon-fed way to get into the AFL. The way it's worked out for me, it's given me a good perspective to realise how lucky I am. Who would know what would have happened if I was drafted earlier? I'm happy with where I'm at and what's happened."
ALEX SILVAGNI - ROUND 1 v ADELAIDE
If one year ago, someone had told Alex Silvagni that he would be playing AFL in 2010, he would have told them they were crazy.
"I wouldn't have believed them," said the 22-year-old.
Silvagni was plying his trade in the VFL for the Casey Scorpions last year, but after being picked up as a rookie by Freo, he has become a key component of the club’s defensive structure this season.
He rated Geelong premiership forward Tom Hawkins as his toughest opponent to date.
"Geelong are well drilled and they have a great midfield, which means the ball is always coming into the forward line with quality delivery, which makes it tough for the defenders," he said.
Silvagni said he had learnt a great deal by playing on some of the AFL's best forwards.
"I'm playing on guys who are capable of doing a lot of damage," he said. "You have to adjust for different types of players. You have to learn how different guys employ different tactics and positioning during games."
Silvagni said being an older recruit had made his introduction to AFL level a lot easier to handle.
"Having played VFL before, I wasn't intimidated," he said. "You play against AFL guys in the VFL, and I'm 22, so it's not as tough as it might be for an 18-year old."
But he knows that, as a rookie-listed player, he will have to fight tooth and nail to keep his dream alive.
“There's a bit of uncertainty as a rookie, not knowing what's going to happen,” he said. “You know you have to work hard. You can't just sit back and get comfortable with your spot. You have to keep working. It’s challenging, but it's rewarding as well.”
ANTHONY MORABITO - ROUND 1 v ADELAIDE
Anthony Morabito was Fremantle's top pick in last year's AFL Draft, and the boy from Harvey in WA's South-West hasn't disappointed with his introduction to top level football.
Tall, quick and strong, the 18-year-old said he was now getting used to life as an AFL footballer.
"You're playing games all the time, just trying to keep your spot in the team," Morabito said. "You get more and more focused on just trying to play good football."
Morabito said that after playing on a few quality opponents in his brief career, one in particular stood out as a player he wanted to model his game on: St Kilda midfielder Nick Dal Santo.
"He knows where to run and uses the ball well," Morabito said. "Those are aspects I'd like to improve in my game."
Morabito said he was excited at the prospect of growing as a team with the other young players Fremantle has introduced in recent years.
"The way all the young boys have come in and made a difference is just great," he said. "I personally will try and play some solid footy and hold my spot in the team. I want to contribute every week and hopefully get a few more wins on the board, and help the team achieve its goal of sustained success."
NATHAN FYFE - ROUND 5 v RICHMOND
Nathan Fyfe has already been coined the new 'Birdman' of the AFL, and he announced his arrival during his first AFL game in round five when he took a soaring pack mark against Richmond.
But the spring-heeled youngster said that mark wasn't anything out of the ordinary.
"It was just like I was back at home playing footy," Fyfe said. "I didn't think of anything other than jumping up and marking it just like any other time and, luckily, it stuck."
That was on Anzac Day, but just to confirm he wasn't afraid of performing on the big stage, the 18-year-old kicked a stunning goal in the Derby the following week, which was nominated for AFL Goal of the Week.
A NAB Rising Star nomination after his 23-possession effort in the round nine win in Sydney capped off the young forward’s dream start to his AFL career.
Fyfe has excited Freo fans with his athletic capacity and freakish talent playing in the forward line, but he realises that to become a more complete footballer he still needs to improve on the defensive aspects of his game.
Fyfe said the round eight match against Collingwood, in which he played on Magpies' running defenders Heath Shaw and Harry O'Brien, highlighted to him just how important it was for forwards to be defensive-minded on backmen.
"They were very clever, experienced players that utilised their body and space very well," Fyfe said. "You become a lot more conscious of what your opponent is doing. As a forward, when you have to play on such attacking defenders, you have to have a defensive mindset."
DYLAN ROBERTON - ROUND 6 v WEST COAST
Dylan Roberton made his AFL debut under the spotlight of a Derby, and his opponents did all they could to try and allow the occasion to overwhelm the 18-year-old.
“There was a bit of "who are you", "what are you doing out here" and "you're just a kid"," Roberton said. "It didn't bother me at all."
The Victorian recruit showed good composure, gathering 13 kicks as Fremantle beat its cross-town rivals in a stadium packed predominately with West Coast fans.
"It was a very one-sided crowd, so it was a different experience at Subiaco, getting all the boos," Roberton said. "But it was good to hear the crowd quieten down once we got on top of them."
Roberton's second game involved the tricky journey to play at the Gabba in Brisbane, and it was another valuable learning curve for him.
"That's the longest flight I’ve ever been on," he said. "It was good to go over with the boys and good to get a win. I learnt that you have to be very professional for away trips, like keeping hydrated and getting on top of your sleep."
Roberton has very good endurance, but he has been impressed by the fitness levels that AFL players were at, and was now motivated to improve his own.
"The amount of repeat efforts, how often players can go at a contest and do it really fast, over and over again is incredible at an AFL level," he said. "I have good overall fitness but I want to be able to improve my match fitness to match it with the best in the AFL."
