FREMANTLE'S Darcy Tucker says homesickness will not be a factor for him and believes the Dockers’ elite training facilities enhance their prospects of retaining interstate players.

Speaking at Cockburn yesterday morning, Horsham product Tucker said being a country boy meant he had adjusted to being away from home prior to Fremantle drafting him.

“I was three-and-a-half hours from Melbourne anyway, so I knew growing up that if I wanted to play AFL I had to move regardless because there was no AFL team in Horsham,” he said.

“I went to boarding school for a couple of years as well, so I have been away from home for about four or five years now.

“Boarding school got me out of my comfort zone and more independent. I think that has helped with the shift to Perth.”

Tucker said it was natural for young players to battle home-sickness, but it was something he hadn’t suffered from.

“That is what football is. If you want to do what you love, you have got to move to other places,” he said.

Tucker, 20, signed a two-year contract extension tying him to the club until the end of 2019.

“It is a good time to be at the club and I feel I have got a good future with all of the young players playing at the moment,” he said.

“We have got world-class facilities and it definitely helps with player retention. You have elite facilities to help you be the best player that you can be.”

Tucker says he is 8kg heavier than when he arrived at Fremantle and has his long-term sights set on a role as an inside midfielder.

Tucker has yet to speak with coach Ross Lyon about his 2018 role and is happy to play on a wing if that is where the coach wants him. Eventually he hopes to boast sufficient strength and fitness to help him become an inside midfielder.

“I have been playing on a wing in the last couple of years,” Tucker said. “I am happy to play half-forward or half-back whatever the case may be and hopefully in a couple of years become an inside midfielder.”