Fremantle Rising Star winner Rhys Palmer believes he can improve his game further over the summer and ensure he doesn't fall victim to the second-year blues.
The 19-year-old admitted that winning the award hadn't properly sunk in just yet, but said that when it did, he'd probably have his team-mate and fellow Rising Star winner Paul Hasleby (2000) on hand to ensure he maintained those standards next season.
"I haven't spoken to him (Hasleby) yet," said Palmer on Thursday. "But I'm sure he'll call me up and give me some advice."
"He has before, saying that the first year's good to play well but the second year's just as important to keep going, so I'm sure I'll work with him over the pre-season."
And the midfielder warned other sides he'd be working on his slightly wayward disposal to ensure his possessions were even more influential in 2009.
"My whole game needs improving, so it's (my disposal) just one thing where I will hopefully improve on in the summer and hopefully next year become a good damaging kicker," he said.
Fremantle coach Mark Harvey believes Palmer demonstrated he had an old head on young shoulders throughout the course of 2008 as long-term injuries to players like Hasleby and the retirements Peter Bell and Shaun McManus saw several young Dockers thrown into the midfield whether they were ready or not.
"He's brought it upon himself in many ways to get involved in the game more than I've ever seen from a lot of first-year players," said Harvey.
"Just things like Aaron Sandilands will go to a stoppage and Rhys will be the first one barking orders."
"Now that's interesting that a first-year player is getting involved in that, for normally they have to wait their time or earn their stripes. But to Rhys' credit, he backs it up with the way he plays."
Harvey added the club was fortunate young players like Palmer, Garrick Ibbotson, Chris Mayne, Brett Peake and Byron Schammer had thrived on the extra responsibility given to them during the year.
"I think what happens to the dynamics of the playing group is when a lot of the old players retire and move on, all of a sudden, they (the young players) become centre stage and they're asked to do a lot more from a team aspect than perhaps they would have if they'd been under the guard of the older guys," Harvey said.
"That's been interesting to watch the transformation and ... it also gives us a better insight into them as players and (to) not (have) the sole reliance on our star players is something we want to have as a team."