Fremantle recruit Shane Kersten keen to make an impression on his new teammates during pre-season

There will be plenty of spots up for grabs in the new-look Dockers forward line in 2017, following the exits of mainstays Matthew Pavlich (retirement) and Chris Mayne (traded to Collingwood).

But the 23-year-old forward, who played 37 games in five seasons at Geelong before being traded home to Western Australia last month, isn’t looking any further ahead than the pre-season.

“I’ve obviously been brought over here as a forward to fill holes that needed to be filled,” Kersten said.

“But from my point of view, I’ve got to put my best foot forward in this first block of pre-season.

“I’m not looking too far ahead, I’m not looking forward and putting my eyes on Round 1 as of yet.

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“I just want to get in here, meet everyone, work with the coaches and do all those things to put my body in the best shape by the pointy end of the pre-season.”

The South Fremantle product said he enjoyed his five years at the Cattery, which made him “a better person and footballer”.

Requesting a trade to Fremantle was a decision Kersten didn’t take lightly, but the lure of friends and family helped make up his mind.

“I had a couple of meetings with (Fremantle coach) Ross (Lyon) and Brad Lloyd the (Fremantle) list manager, and I just thought it was a good opportunity at this stage of my career to get back to Perth,” Kersten said.

“Obviously friends and family (was a factor), I’ve missed by brother growing up playing football and that sort of thing.

“The factor to be back here with my parents was a big one.”

Kersten will re-unite with close friend and former Cats teammate Joel Hamling at Fremantle, with the Western Bulldogs premiership defender also coming across during the trade period.

The pair haven’t played together since Hamling was delisted by Geelong at the end of 2014, but spent time discussing their future during the year.

“It was probably more me trying to help him out with his decision,” Kersten said.

“He had a few other factors into why he had to make a decision (to come home), I won’t go into those.

“We had the odd chat every now and again, and we obviously both knew what was ahead of us and the opportunity the Fremantle Football Club was willing to give us.

“To be given this opportunity back in our home state to play alongside each other for Fremantle is something pretty special.”

The Dockers officially hit the training track on November 21, with Kersten looking forward to getting a full pre-season under his belt.

“Having a pre-season behind you gives you continuity in your football,” he said.

“Up until this pre-season just gone, I hadn’t completely too many full pre-seasons.

“My body is in good shape at the moment, I look forward to getting out there on the 21st of November, meeting all my new teammates and earning that respect straight away.”

Originally published as Kersten keen to impress new teammates