FREMANTLE midfielder Anthony Morabito is edging closer to a return to football following his third knee reconstruction.
The 2010 AFL Rising Star nominee has not played for Fremantle since the semi-final against Geelong in his debut season, when he played 23 matches.
"He's gearing up to play relatively soon," teammate David Mundy said at a media conference.
"He's joining in training a lot more and feeling more confident in his body, and yeah - he's not too far away, I guess."
Morabito has had a hat-trick of knee reconstructions after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee three times.
Morabito missed all of the 2011 season when he had a traditional reconstruction in December 2010.
He had another hamstring graft reconstruction when he re-injured his knee in July 2012, having played one reserves and seven league matches in the WAFL for Peel Thunder that season.
But Morabito's knee failed him again on January 8 this year when he crumpled during a pre-season training session. He subsequently opted for the LARS surgery.
Morabito has been participating in full training since early May and is edging closer to a return.
"It's obviously been a long road for 'Mora'," Mundy said.
"We want to take a bit of a conservative route with him."
Morabito has drawn inspiration from Sydney Swans premiership player Nick Malceski, who advised Morabito on the benefits of the LARS surgery and put the young Docker in contact with his surgeon.
Mundy said it was pleasing to see the talented 21-year-old moving so well at training.
"To see him around the boys and running around and kicking the footy, it's good," he said.
"Hopefully he can hold together and get back out on the track."
