Fremantle midfielder Neil Erasmus believes the resilience he built throughout a difficult start to his career has held him in good stead as he has established himself as an AFL footballer.

Erasmus was selected by the Dockers with the 10th pick of the 2021 draft but played only 23 senior games in his first three seasons, also making 38 appearances for Peel Thunder as he yo-yoed between the top level and State league.

Since being granted an AFL call-up in round 10 of last year, the Subiaco and Hale School product has been left out for only two of his side’s 26 games, establishing himself in a new role as a winger.

The 22-year-old celebrated his 50th career appearance for Fremantle — who have adopted the name Walyalup for the Sir Doug Nicholls rounds — with a solid showing in their 30-point win over St Kilda on Friday night, gathering 15 disposals and laying five tackles to go with a classy third-term goal.

Erasmus said he had learnt important lessons both about both his football and his character in his time spent at Peel Thunder.

“I think I prided myself on when I did go back to WAFL level . . . I didn’t want to go down there with a dropped lip,” he told The West Australian.

“I just stayed positive and played the best footy possible to put my hand back up. That got mentioned by JL (coach Justin Longmuir) today and it’s something I pride myself on.

“I wouldn’t have thought eight years ago I’d be playing so many games on the wing, but I’m glad that the coaches could see me playing a different role.

“You can have some quiet patches, that’s for sure. There’s a lot of unrewarded running and role-play that probably isn’t as rewarded externally as it is internally.”

Erasmus revealed he was not aware he would be playing his 50th AFL game against the Saints until he was told by a member of the club’s media team after a training session in midweek.

When asked if he now had complete confidence he would be selected on a week-in, week-out basis after reaching the milestone, he replied: “I’m still getting to that point.”

“It will probably always be a bit like that, to be honest, because we’ve got such a strong side,” Erasmus said.

“I think that’s what makes us so good, there’s a number of players pushing for positions.

“It keeps you on your toes and striving to get better week-in, week-out.”

Erasmus came into the contest having not attended a centre bounce in Fremantle’s last four games but found himself in the middle for five against the Saints in the absence of Hayden Young and Caleb Serong.

He said he had enjoyed being given a taste of a role he impressed in throughout his junior career, but remained unsure of what his long-term positional future held.

“It was nice to get back in there, I haven’t been in there for a few weeks,” he said.

“We’re pretty stacked in there regardless. Brucey (Murphy Reid) and Bolts (Shai Bolton) stepped up, Johnno (Matthew Johnson) had a role tonight and he did that really well.

“(Assistant coach) Joel Corey heads up the mids and he’s a bit of a guru, he’s always got a plan for us and he makes sure the mix is looking good.”