Fremantle rookie Josh Treacy is relishing the extra responsibility with fellow key forward Matt Taberner out of the side, putting the onus on himself to step up.

Treacy played his best game at AFL level in Saturday’s win over Gold Coast at Optus Stadium, booting 2.3 from 15 disposals and seven marks.

The country Victorian beast had a slow start to his career, going goalless in his first three games before getting dropped.

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The 18-year-old returned in round 10 against Sydney and has held his spot ever since, playing four consecutive matches including a three-goal haul against the Western Bulldogs last week.

Taberner, the club’s leading goal-kicker this season, hasn’t played since sustaining an ankle injury against the Swans.

Treacy highlighted the turning point in his career.

“With ‘Tabs’ going out of the side, I felt like there was a need to step up,” Treacy told the Final Siren Podcast.

“The Port Adelaide game (in round 11) was where it probably changed for me, I got to more contests and clunked a few and tried to crash some packs.

“I just try to back myself against any opponent and hope the boys have trust in me to kick it.”

Treacy credited Taberner’s influence for taking him “under his wing” in his debut season at the club, with the pair bonding in their reduced training groups during quarantine.

“It’s been unbelievable, when I first got here the Victorian boys were stuck in quarantine, so we had to train separately at different hours of the day in our little groups,” Treacy said.

“That was what really helped me. ’Tabs’ took me under his wing, and we really bonded.

“Then I obviously got to work with ‘Lobby’ (Rory Lobb) and learn the attributes he brings.

“(Assistant coach) David Hale has been unbelievable in just working with me every week on body position and things like that, it’s been really good.”