Darcy Tucker Biography

Fremantle midfielder Darcy Tucker says he is running the best he has in his career as he looks to become an important cog in the Dockers' wing rotation in 2022.

"This year I've had a full off-season doing the running program, which was a very hard program set by (high-performance manager) Phil Merriman, and I was able to get through it," he said.

"That really set me up for this pre-season and I feel like I'm running the best I ever have, which is allowing me to burst from stoppages and really reach high speeds as well. I feel like that part of my game is really going to help me for the wing as well this year."

Darcy Tucker signs a new two-year deal with Fremantle to remain at the club until the end of 2021.

"I'm really enjoying it. It's my fourth year here and Perth is like a big country town for me," Tucker said.

"It's nice weather and nice and chilled. My girlfriend is over here and I've just built a house, so we can't wait to get in there and get really settled.

"We have an exciting young group coming up and I think we can play finals footy in the very near future, so I'm looking forward to it."

Darcy Tucker is confident he isn't behind the eight-ball heading towards round one, despite only recently joining main training after suffering a stress fracture in his left foot in round 23.

Tucker pulled up sore from the narrow season-ending loss to Collingwood and scans revealed the issue, which kept him out of full training until now.

"They set a good program for me over the off-season with what I could do and I was able to maintain a fair bit of fitness, so I haven't lost too much," Tucker said.

"I'm confident I can get a good block of training in before the season and be as fit as I was last season and keep improving."

Darcy Tuckers signs a new contract extension with Fremantle that will keep him at the club until the end of 2019.

Tucker has played 30 games since he was drafted from North Ballarat with pick 27 in 2015 and the 20-year-old is relishing senior opportunities at the rebuilding club.

"To get opportunities in my first year and to continue to play this year has been great. I feel as though that I’m improving as time goes on," he said.

"I’ve absolutely loved it, it’s every kid's dream to play AFL and I’ve been able to do that. I’m looking to improve and establish myself over the next couple of years as an AFL player."

Darcy Tucker says he has exceeded even his boldest expectations in terms of games played in his first season at the Dockers.

Lachie Neale had been the only teenager to reach double figures in terms of games played in their first season under coach Ross Lyon but Tucker has already played nine this year.

"Coming to the club, obviously knowing the history of Fremantle, I was wanting to get one or two games," Tucker said.

"So to get the opportunity I have this year is very good for me and my personal development."

Dockers coach Ross Lyon says he threw first-year player Darcy Tucker "to the wolves" in his debut game against Carlton and wants him to regain some touch in the WAFL this week.

"We threw Tucker to the wolves, really," Lyon said.

"He hadn't played for two weeks and he's a first-year player and we just based [the decision] on one pre-season game.

"For the foundation coming in, I think he's acquitted himself quite well. Has he had huge impact? I think he'd be the first to say 'no'.

"But what we see we think he's going to be a good player for us."

Darcy Tucker makes his AFL debut for Fremantle with 16 disposals (6 kicks and 10 handballs), 3 marks and 3 tackles in a 4-point loss to Carlton.

Melbourne knee specialist Julian Feller clears Darcy Tucker of any serious damage to his knee.

After gathering 21 disposals in an impressive performance during Fremantle's NAB Challenge, Darcy Tucker undergoes a scan due to some knee soreness and is sent to Melbourne for further consultation with knee surgeon Julian Feller.

"In the game he was fine," Fremantle coach Ross Lyon said.

"Then he came in, we thought it was a cork.

"The scan took us by surprise. There's a bit of a signal there that we need to get checked out. Hopefully it's not too serious, but that would rule him out already for this week, so we're disappointed with that."

Fremantle select Darcy Tucker with pick No.27 in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft.