Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy says the player group has moved on from Rory Lobb's botched trade request and he's expecting the big man to play a big role in 2022.
Lobb requested a trade back to GWS in October, but a deal never got off the ground.
The 28-year-old sent a text to some teammates afterwards to tell them he's committed to the cause, and Darcy is excited to have Lobb on deck.
"I've had a little chat with Lobby," Darcy said on Monday.
"That's the day and age we live in football now and players are allowed to explore interest they have from other teams.
"Lobby is really committed and he's looking good at the moment.
"He just wants to get into training and games. It's all behind us as a playing group. We're excited for the year ahead and he's a part of it.
"As a playing group we forget about it pretty quickly once trade period is over, we move on pretty quickly."
Darcy and his fellow five-plus year players returned to training on Monday and were greeted with four one-kilometre time trials.
Alex Pearce and Blake Acres ran a dead heat in the first, the second was won by Pearce while Griffin Logue won the final two.
Darcy was one of the AFL's most improved players last season and he wants to take his game to even greater heights next year.
"This year I think I'm a lot fitter than I was last year," said Darcy, who posted a PB in the time trials.
"Last year I had a couple knocks in pre-season and didn't get to train as much as I wanted to.
"This year has been about getting a bit lighter and a bit fitter and being able to run a lot better.
"I did every session in the off-season which you really want do."
Skipper Nat Fyfe, who is on the comeback trail from a shoulder reconstruction that later resulted in a serious infection, ran with the rehab group before doing gym work.
Fyfe is no guarantee to be fit for round one given his compromised build up.
"He's feeling really good," Darcy said.
"Pre-season is a bit hard when you're in rehab, you feel isolated but he's been good."
Australian Associated Press
