Fremantle midfielder Michael Barlow has made a promising return from a broken leg, finding plenty of the ball in his two-quarter hit-out in the WAFL reserves.

Barlow had 15 possessions for the Peel Thunder reserves, showing he had lost none of the ball-gathering ability that established him as one of the Dockers' most important midfielders last year.

"It has been fine for a long time now," Barlow said after the hit-out.

"It was more about the soft tissue. That got through no problems and felt really good. It's just good to touch leather again.

"It's more about how I'm going to pull up tonight and tomorrow."

Barlow is set to spend a few more weeks in the WAFL, but said he was eager to earn a Dockers recall as soon as possible.

"It's up to Harvs (coach Mark Harvey) and the match committee as to when they want to get me back in if there's room for me," Barlow said.

"It's something I'm not worried about at all.

"I'll just do what I'm told. I've done that for 23 years now.

"I've never lost confidence in my ability to play at the top level and this has given me more motivation and drive to get back into it.

"There's no doubt in my mind that I can get back playing at that level.

"I'd love to play next week. Home game, don't have to jump on a plane. But it's more how I pull up."

Fremantle development coach Ashley Prescott praised the 23-year-old's efforts in his first competitive hit-out since round 14 last year.

"He played predominantly through the midfield and worked really well," Prescott told afl.com.au on Saturday.

"It was certainly a really good step forward and he can walk away today being really pleased with his effort in 30 minutes of football.

"The beauty of Mick, and we saw it playing last year, is just his ability to constantly stay in motion and his ability to read the ball. That was really good today.

"You certainly can't wipe the smile off his face."

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