FREMANTLE recruit Nathan Wilson believes that by providing a shoulder to lean on, he can help best mate Harley Bennell get the most out of himself next season.

Wilson was unveiled as a Docker on Thursday after being granted his wish to be traded home from Greater Western Sydney to be closer to his tight-knit family.

The damaging half-back's partner, Stevie, is due to give birth in February and Wilson is already settling back into life in Western Australia.

He can't wait to pull on the purple guernsey of the club he barracked for growing up, and is keen to support childhood mate Bennell, who finally overcame two years of repeated calf setbacks and some off-field controversy to make his Dockers debut in round 22.

"That was a big one for me to come back and probably get him on the right track as well," Wilson said.

"The last two games for him was a massive boost because I know mentally he was struggling for a bit with his legs and injuries and stuff.

"(He can) just know that I'm here for his support, I know the club has been massive for that, but he's got a shoulder he can lean on.

"That's without the media being here and on his case, and that's probably sitting at home him telling me what he doesn't tell a lot of people.

"I can't wait to do that."

Wilson will have to adapt to plying his trade in the Perth 'fishbowl' – and it didn't take long to get a taste of the fanaticism of local supporters.

The 24-year-old was traded while he was in the air on the way to Bali, and upon landing found out from a fellow passenger his drawn-out move to the Dockers had gone through.

"As soon as I landed my roaming wasn't working to find out if I'd been traded or not, so some bloke came up to me and said 'Welcome back to Perth'," Wilson said.

"The missus was crying and the family was crying because obviously it's a dream come true to play back home."

While Wilson has left a club that played in consecutive preliminary finals, he sees promise in Fremantle's emerging crop.

He will step straight into departed young gun Lachie Weller's shoes as a rebounding backman, and was impressed after being take on a tour of Fremantle's state-of-the-art facilities by coach Ross Lyon.

"He's strong on his values and gameplan and I can't wait to be under his wing and learn," Wilson said.

"He's been to Grand Finals before so I know a lot of the media and stuff don't like him, but behind the scenes he's a great man."

We think purple looks pretty good on you @nathanwilo16

Welcome to Freo! #ForeverFreo pic.twitter.com/YP16NGmneZ — Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) October 26, 2017

Wilson's first Western Derby experience will be in front of 60,000 fans at the new Perth Stadium, and the ex-Giant should add some spice to the occasion.

Asked if he ever considered joining West Coast, the electric defender declared it had only ever been "Freo or bust".

"I don't like the Eagles," he said.

"You're either Freo or Eagles, and I'm Freo."