Fremantle has doubled down on its faith in tall combination Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson believing they are working their way through changes to the ruck rule.

Dockers’ head of football Joe Brierty said Darcy was beginning to have the impact the club believes he is again capable of after opening the season “underdone”.

“It was something we reflected on in terms of him building into his footy,” Brierty told ABC Radio about Darcy’s start to the season.

“We are starting to see that now around the ground.”

The new rule at centre square restarts prohibits ruckmen from crossing a centre line, favouring more athletic big man over the traditional wrestling tradesmen, who can still have an impact around the ground.

Darcy was impacted by a calf injury late in the pre-season and has been eased into games, playing 45 per cent of match time in round one against Geelong, followed by 54 per cent in successive weeks and 43 per cent in the Good Friday win over Adelaide.

“I think the game and the ruck rule at a centre square bounce obviously it’s opening up the outside and the ability to score from centre square bounce in particular with the jumping,” Brierty said.

“But when you look at the impact he (Darcy) can have around the ground and ultimately working the rucks over, working in a one-two combo with Jacko (Luke Jackson), as he builds his footy and his confidence in his body and the work that he has under his belt, we know that he can have a real impact.

“Even his fight work (Friday night), his tackle after the contest, and jarring the ball free and setting up our smalls around the contest, it was really important.

“We think that he is taking steps forward.”

Brierty also lauded the impact of mid-forward Shai Bolton, who had embraced more midfield time over the past three weeks in the absence of injured on-baller Hayden Young.

Brierty said Bolton, who know wears recently retired club legend Michael Walters No. 10 jumper, had embraced a new unofficial leadership role.

Bolton has accumulated 510, 573 and 638 metres gained over the past three weeks in his second season at the club after arriving from Richmond.

“Last year when he arrived … he was under done and he missed a fair bit of his pre-season block, but this pre-season just gone he hasn’t missed too much,” Brierty said.

“With Sonny stepping away from the club he has taking it on himself to be that strong leader, particulary around our indigenous boys, we’re loving seeing that play out.

“He has a real passion for where he wants to take this group and be a leader on field as well.”

The Dockers face Collingwood at Adelaide Oval next Friday in Gather Round and Brierty said the club’s decision to fly home for Easter rather than remain in South Australia was made partly on reflection on the past.

The Dockers rose at 4.30am WST the morning after their win over Adelaide to get on a flight home as early as possible, unlike last season when they remained in South Australia for back to back games.

Spending time with their families at Easter was an important factor.

“It’s something we talked about with the high performance team and even a few of our leaders just about what the best preparation was with the two weeks,” Brierty said.

“At times being away for those 10-day blocks, a bit of boredom can creep in.

“It’s probably a bit of a theme from a group perspective that we just want to live in the moment and really focus on week to week.

“The ability just to travel back home and refocus back into viewing the game properly and look forward to Collingwood was where we ultimately landed.”

“It’s a quick turnaround. 9am flight, so the boys are up about 4.30am Perth time.

“To be honest not many of them sleep after a game like that anyway.”