Sam Switkowski feels like he’s finally starting to repay Fremantle’s faith after a frustrating run of injuries.

The mature-aged recruit was restricted to just seven appearances — two in the AFL and five in the WAFL — in his first season at the Dockers.

But after another hamstring setback to finish a strong pre-season, the pressure forward is feeling renewed confidence in his body.

“It was a bit frustrating to start the season off with a little hamstring injury but it’s been really pleasing to play seven in a row now to go with a couple of WAFL games,” Switkowski said.

“It’s the most games I’ve strung together for a number of years now, so it gives me a lot of confidence with my body and a bit of momentum going forward.”

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The 22-year-old signed a two-year contract extension while he was sidelined in March, keeping him at Fremantle until at least the end of 2021.

“I took a lot out of them giving me that two-year extension, they had a lot of faith in me and a lot of confidence in me and my ability,” Switkowski said.

“To be able to be out there playing AFL games and performing, it’s starting to feel like I’m repaying the faith I guess, but there’s obviously a lot of work to go.”

The Box Hill product, who lives with fellow 2017 draftees Bailey Banfield, Stefan Giro, Lloyd Meek and first-year teammate Luke Valente in Attadale, said Perth “felt like home”.

Switkowski will come up against the team he barracked for as a kid, Collingwood, for the second time in his blossoming AFL career at the MCG tomorrow.

In just his second appearance for the Dockers, the goalsneak had 17 possessions, three tackles and a goal against the Pies in a breakout match in round 23 last year.

He is expecting a “really fierce contest” against last season’s grand finalists, coming off seven wins on the trot, but said Freo were up for the challenge.

“We’re really excited, we feel like we can take it to any team this year and we’ve been really competitive in all of our games,” Switkowski said.

“They’re a really seasoned team with a lot of experience and a strong midfield, but we’ll be ready for the contest.

“We’ll be looking to really hit them hard with contested footy and beat them in the middle, that’s where it starts.”

With veteran Hayden Ballantyne on the verge of returning from a hamstring injury, competition is increasing for spots in the forward line.

“The sort of pressure for selection is a good thing,” Switkowski said. “That competition for our list is really healthy.”