Fremantle will take a cautious approach with forward Jesse Hogan, despite the forward being ahead of schedule following season-ending foot surgery earlier this year.

The former Melbourne goalkicker booted 13 goals in 12 appearances this season, before a recurrence of his stress fracture in the navicular bone in his foot ended his year prematurely.

General manager of football Peter Bell said there were positive signs in Hogan’s rehabilitation, but did not put a specific timeframe on his return.

Camera Icon Jesse Hogan had season-ending foot surgery. Credit: The West Australian

“It is going to be slow and steady,” Bell told 6PR.

Don't miss the latest sports news! Was $13 now $7 per week for 12 weeks* (Digital + Print) Enjoy unlimited access to thewest.com.au and everyday digital editions on any device. Thursday - Monday papers home delivered with all of the latest footy news! *T&Cs apply

“I wouldn’t put an exact time frame on it, but we wouldn’t expect him to be playing full football before Christmas.

“Matt Taberner possibly could have played late in the year, but we decided to take a more conservative approach.”

The Dockers youngsters will return to the training track on Monday, before senior players - including recruits Blake Acres and James Aish, and superstars Nat Fyfe and Michael Walters - head back on November 18.

Bell said the Dockers were likely to play more attractive football under new coach Justin Longmuir, as they looked to take advantage of their targets in attack.

“We feel we have some potent key forwards, so to maximise that potency we have to make sure we get the ball in there as much as possible,” he said.

“It is incumbent on us to win more games of football.”

Fremantle were one of just two sides alongside Gold Coast to not be given a Thursday or Friday night fixture in 2020, something which did not bother Bell.

“I guess, from a fan point of view, the Sunday afternoons have not been as popular as other timeslots,” he said.

“We are excited to have some night games. We have the six-day breaks, a couple of them coming off travel, are manageable as well.

“We know there are no easy games in the AFL and we will be working hard over pre-season to put out a really competitive team for as many weeks as possible.”

Bell also revealed new chief executive officer Simon Garlick was set to start the job officially on November 18.