Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has flagged a role change for exciting youngster Liam Henry in 2022.
The ninth pick in the 2019 National Draft, Henry has primarily played as a deep small forward across the first 20 games of his career.
Longmuir said the plan is to push the 20-year-old up onto the wing next year.
“We’re going to try Liam Henry up the ground a little more and give him the opportunity a little more to get up the ground and use his natural attributes and his running and his ability to change angles with the ball,” the Freo coach told Sportsday WA.
“Probably through needs more than anything we played him as a deeper forward last year and it didn’t suit his style of play and didn’t allow him to play to his strengths.
“He’ll play up on the wing, he’s training there all pre-season. He’s been really impressive with his intensity and his work-rate at training.
“I think it’s exciting, up the ground he’s able to play to his strengths a little bit more and when he gets the ball in his hands, things usually happen.”
At the same time, veteran Michael Walters will spend more time inside 50 in 2022.
“He’ll play as a forward, that will be his main role with flexibility to go onto the wing and midfield,” Longmuir added.
“I think late in the year he showed some promise on the wing, a bit like Liam - his ability to change angles with the ball and set play up is really strong.”
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