Former Collingwood forward Jack Anthony has already "embedded" himself at Fremantle, but the Dockers are waiting nervously to see if they get their man in December's AFL pre-season draft.

Fremantle and Anthony have already agreed to terms for next season, even though their arrangement could be foiled by rival clubs.

Gold Coast and Carlton, two clubs previously keen to snare Anthony, will possess a higher pick than Fremantle in the pre-season draft.

But the Dockers are confident Anthony, who has already started training with the club, will end up at Fremantle.

"He's committed to us and said that he'd love to play at this footy club, and we're certainly keen to get him," football operations manager Chris Bond said on Monday.

"At this stage we'd like to think that he's more or less embedded himself, even in this early period, at our footy club.

"We'd like to think that we're pretty confident of getting him.

"The pre-season draft isn't until early December, hopefully we can secure him and he's already had a month at your footy club.

"It's good to get Jack over and get him used to the Perth heat and get him into our environment."

Anthony played predominantly as a forward at Collingwood, booting 50 goals in his breakthrough season of 2009.

But the 22-year-old also spent stints in defence and could be used at both ends for the Dockers.

"Obviously his history has been as a forward, but I think what we've been able to show (for example with Chris Tarrant) is we've been quite versatile with our players," Bond said.

"And if he's got the athletic ability to play at both ends then that's something that, hopefully if we secure him in the pre-season draft, we can work through with him."

Bond said Michael Barlow, who broke his leg in sickening fashion midway through last season, was progressing well.

"He's been moving around on the leg fine and we've said all along we won't rush him," Bond said.

"He's the type of person and personality that he'd like to get out there and start kicking a ball.

"We'll monitor that really closely. We see Mick as a long-term player at our footy club. He won't be rushed, but in saying that we're really happy with his progress."

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