Fremantle forward Michael Walters learned the hard way about what it takes to make it in the AFL.
Now, the 22-year-old doesn’t want his teammate Josh Simpson to repeat those mistakes.
Walters was banished to the WAFL at the start of 2012 after failing to meet Fremantle’s fitness standards.
At the time, Walters was a talented player with a bright future, but his work ethic wasn’t up to scratch.
Walters could have easily given up and faded away, much like West Coast sharpshooter Ashley Sampi.
But instead, Walters knuckled down and did the hard yards, eventually winning his way back into the Fremantle set-up.
Walters has been a shining light for the Dockers since, booting 46 goals in last season’s grand final campaign to establish himself as one of the league’s best small forwards.
Simpson has struggled to cope with the AFL training loads since being snared with pick No.17 in last year’s national draft.
The 19-year-old battled through Fremantle’s first week of pre-season training late last month, still playing catch-up with a lot of his teammates.
Simpson will need to improve his fitness drastically over coming months if he is to break into Fremantle’s powerful line-up, and Walters is trying to help the line-breaking midfielder achieve his potential.
“Everyone talks about Josh Simpson. I remember watching the news the first week (of pre-season training) and they said he came back unfit,” Walters said.
“I’m just trying to help him because I never really had anyone to help me.
“I don’t want the same thing that happened to me to happen to him as well, so I’m trying to help him out as much as I can.
“He’s much fitter than he was the first week.
“There’s no doubt he’s got all the talent in the world. It’s just the hard work component now. I had to find it and now he’s starting to find it.”
Walters hopes the arrivals of key forward Scott Gumbleton and former Demon Colin Sylvia will boost Fremantle’s attacking firepower, and give ageing spearhead Matthew Pavlich a much-needed helping hand.
“I think they will make a massive change to our forward line, especially helping Pav out,” Walters said.
“Gumbles is another tall forward, so it’s not just Pav and Mayney doing all the work.
“Chris Mayne can play high and he can play down low as well which is good.”
