Dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe has made his boldest bid yet for an early-season call-up with an encouraging return to full training at Cockburn.

The 33-year-old emerged from rehabilitation into the main group on Thursday as the Dockers look to field a midfield capable of beating the Cats at their home ground in round one on March 15.

Fyfe has been recovering from minor knee surgery and might still not be ready for an early-season road trip, but it’s still an encouraging sign for both the veteran, who is entering his 16th season, and the club, with first-choice midfielder Hayden Young ruled out of the season opener due to a hamstring strain.

Fyfe is unlikely to feature in Sunday’s pre-season clash against Melbourne in Mandurah, but will then have 10 days to make a case for his inclusion against the Cats.

The former skipper, who only recently resumed running, was with the main group for drills on Thursday but did not take part in a brief 18 v 18 match simulation.

Young has already been ruled out of round one after suffering a hamstring strain last Saturday on the back of encouraging progress from the same injury.

Ruck Sean Darcy is the only other first-choice Docker out of contention for round one.

Defender Josh Draper will miss the Melbourne tune-up after scans revealed a low-grade hamstring strain and will be a test for round one.

Liam Reidy is expected to fill the ruck void in Darcy’s absence, while 2024 draftee Murphy Reid, fourth-year pair Matt Johnson and Neil Erasmus and second-year forward-mid Cooper Simpson are others pushing to fill Young’s position.

Fyfe played 22 games last season — the most in more than a decade — and is only 10 matches off becoming the fourth Docker to play 250 games, joining an illustrious group that includes former teammates David Mundy, Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands.

The highlight of Fyfe’s 2024 was a 37-touch, seven-clearance, one-goal throwback against the Western Bulldogs in round seven.

Fyfe’s critics will argue he does not have the foot speed, kicking efficiency or versatility to guarantee a spot in the starting 22, while his supporters believe he remains a key piece at stoppage with his big body, inside strength and ability to bring teammates into the game.

Fyfe and Michael Walters are the only two remaining players from the Dockers’ 2013 grand final loss.

Walters took part in full practice, including match simulation, 12 days after captaining the Indigenous All Stars against Fremantle.

Captain Alex Pearce is a test to play against Melbourne while he recovers from an ankle injury that kept sidelined from the Indigenous All Stars match.

Pearce ran laps but has already said he is a lock for round one, regardless of whether he plays against the Demons.

Forward Sam Switkoswki took part in match simulation on Thursday for the first time since suffering a concussion against the All Stars.

His hopes of playing against the Demons on Sunday will rest largely with his recovery.