The following is either a very good thing for Fremantle, or a very big question mark: The first half of their 2019 season gets a solid tick.

A 6-5 win-loss record, consistent effort in every game and no hidings.

Undeniable progress underlined by away wins against premiership contenders Greater Western Sydney and Collingwood, with a 4-2 mark at home.

But here comes what is either the upside or the catch, depending on whether you are an optimist or pessimist.

Whether the Dockers make it to September and have an impact if they do get there as one of eight sides depends on at least three, and possibly four, players who are yet to play a game between them in 2019 — Stephen Hill, Harley Bennell, Griffin Logue and possibly Aaron Sandilands. If you are an optimist, you are thinking that if none of these four has played yet and two of them look like they are about to, it has to be a good thing.

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A pessimist would look at Logue, acknowledge that he was about to be picked in round one before a hamstring injury, but has not made it back into the best 22 since. He must replace the injured Alex Pearce.

And of the four, a strong back half of the season from Logue is an absolute must.

Bennell is nearly ready, but has been nearly ready several times over 31/2 seasons at Fremantle and played just two AFL games.

Camera Icon Will Harley Bennell feature in Freo’s run to the finals? Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper

Hill carved out 190 matches in nine seasons from debut in the opening round of 2009 until round 23, 2017. He managed just 13 last year and hasn’t played yet this season as calf and quad problems have bitten.

A calf injury — the same type of issue that ended Sandilands’ season after 11 games last year at the age of 35 — has stopped the ruck goliath from getting started yet this year at 36. Of the four, he is the long-shot.

Logue played 13 matches in his debut season in 2017 and hasn’t featured at the top level since.

His 2018 was wrecked by a foot injury. He impressed over summer, but broke down in a JLT Community Series match.

Logue’s form over the past three weeks in the WAFL has been strong, but the shoes he must fill are big.

Pearce is not only a super defender, he is also an on-field leader. Logue is still just 21.

He has time on his side, but in 2019 this is his time now. He is 193cm, fast, strong and has a big tank.

These are great raw materials to build a footballer with, but the emphasis with Logue is on raw.

If he stands up, the Dockers should be in a position to at least hold their ground near the top eight.

The football world had pretty much given up on Bennell after three eventful and injury-riddled seasons.

The Dockers refused to quit on him and out of the blue in the past fortnight he has produced his two best games since joining the club.

In the first quarter for Peel against WAFL giants Subiaco a week ago, he had 12 disposals with six clearances, resulting in the Lions slapping a heavy tag on him.

Play Video Mark Duffield says the lack of an AFL State of Origin is a huge missed opportunity. The West Australian Video Mark Duffield says the lack of an AFL State of Origin is a huge missed opportunity.

Which brings us to the next point. If Bennell’s GPS numbers are around the mark needed for the AFL, Fremantle need to play him sooner rather than later. Every WAFL club is going to tag a player capable of 12 touches and six clearances in a quarter. A heavily tagged Bennell running around in the WAFL as he slowly runs out of contract serves no purpose to anyone.

What we know of Hill is that he will get there if his body allows. If that is the case he will add flexibility and silk to the Dockers’ defence and midfield.

You can bet key forward Jesse Hogan would relish the sight of Bennell and Hill coming at him with the ball.

As for Sandilands, at his age with his recent injury record, a return to the big league almost seems like a dream.

But with 6-6-6 starting points, imagine Sandilands working the centre square with Nat Fyfe, David Mundy and Michael Walters at his feet and Stephen and Bradley Hill and Bennell working the outside.

It’s certainly not a bad dream for Freo fans.