Fremantle coach Ross Lyon is hopeful Michael Walters will make the most of his second chance after the Dockers goalsneak was welcomed back for the club’s AFL clash with Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Walters’ career was at the crossroads earlier this year after he was banished to WAFL club Swan Districts for failing to meet Fremantle’s pre-season fitness standards.

The 21-year-old, who has notched just 11 games for Fremantle since making his debut in 2009, was welcomed back to Dockers training in April after improving his skin folds.

And after coming close to senior selection in recent weeks, Walters was finally given the nod for this weekend’s game against Melbourne, with teammate Hayden Ballantyne delivering him the good news.

Lyon said Walters’ journey had taught the goalsneak valuable lessons about what’s required to succeed in the AFL.

“To borrow a phrase, act your way in, act your way out,” Lyon said on Thursday.

“Clearly at one point he acted his way out of the Fremantle Football Club, but we’re about solutions and support and growth and he’s acted his way in.

“What a wonderful story.

“Sometimes you have to go to the bottom of the well and experience the bottom to bounce back up, and really get a deeper understanding of what you want out of your life and your youth.

“Because that book gets closed pretty quickly.

“There’s lots of hardships in AFL footy.

“It’s an anxiety and stress-filled environment, but you’ve got to take that to experience the positive sides and the highs.

“It’s great to see a young player grab an opportunity, but there’s plenty of work to do here.

“He’ll continue to write his own story.”

Lyon said he was excited to finally unleash Ballantyne and Walters together in the forward line.

But veteran midfielder Nick Lower will miss the clash after suffering his second concussion of the season in last week’s win over the Bulldogs.

Fremantle (7-7) sit in 12th spot on the table, but are just percentage adrift of the eighth-placed Saints and have the perfect chance to make their finals charge over the coming weeks with games against Melbourne, GWS and Port Adelaide to come.