VFL forward Chris Scerri a strong chance to sign at Fremantle as Zac Harding training stint finishes this week

Victorian speedster Chris Scerri is in the box seat to land the final spot at Fremantle with ruckman Zac Harding to finish his stint at the club this week. The West Australian understands Harding won’t continue as a train-on with the Dockers beyond Friday’s session, with a soft tissue injury having sidelined him recently. Harding, 19, is believed to be weighing up options from several state league clubs across the country, having played one game for Carlton’s VFL side last year as well as playing as an over-ager for the Murray Bushrangers. The 199cm ruckman had held his own during his stint at Cockburn, doing ruckwork against the likes of Sean Darcy, Luke Jackson and Collingwood premiership bigman Mason Cox. It will leave Scerri as the man likely to land a spot on the Dockers’ list through the pre-season supplemental selection period, with the club not planning on adding another train-on at this stage. Scerri has impressed since joining last year’s elimination finalists, with his speed and intensity having him standout on the track. The 19-year-old has risen from obscurity in the past 12 months, having starred for the now defunct VFL side the Northern Bullants before signing with Richmond’s VFL side for this year. Fremantle do not have to rush to lock away Scerri, with the SSP running through until February 20. Former Bullants coach Rohan Welsh said Scerri had the attributes to make it at the AFL level despite his inexperience. “He’s a kid who will develop that confidence. We ingrained it into him and said every time you get the ball, we want you to go. We want you to take the game on, and we want you to break the lines,” Welsh told The West Australian last year. “Because he is so young and he’s still developing his game he wasn’t even sure of his own ability especially at VFL level but as soon as he came in, he realised that I’m groomed for this. The Dockers have been prominent users of the SSP rules, having recruited Isaiah Dudley, cult hero Pat Voss and wingman Jeremy Sharp through the mechanism in the past few seasons.