The Horsham Saints product was well on his way to a breakout season before he suffered a serious hamstring injury in round eight.

The 23-year-old joined younger teammates for the club's first training for second-to-fourth year players last week.

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Tucker said he was primed for the 2021 season, as he neared full fitness again.

"To get injured with a pretty bad hamstring injury was a bit of a downfall for me. I felt like I was getting into the swing of things and having some good form in games," he told Fremantle Media.

"I was really keen to play the rest of the season and have a really good push for finals.

"I didn't actually have a tear in the hamstring, the tendon tore straight off the bone. The tendon was still intact, but because it came off the pubic bone you've got to be a lot slower with it because there's not as much muscle around to protect it in rehab.

"But, It's onwards and upwards from here and I'm very excited for next season, and I'll come back bigger and better."

Tucker had become a mainstay in the Dockers' midfield group in 2020, averaging 15 disposals per game in shortened 16-minute quarters.

It continued a purple patch for the Dockers fan favourite, with Tucker's 2019 efforts drawing special praise from captain Nat Fyfe in his Brownlow Medal acceptance speech.

Fremantle's workhorse said he was itching to get back on the field.

"It's definitely hard to watch. I'm one that wants to be out there and struggles to watch footy," Tucker said.

"It's been really good to see, watching from home, that our midfield has stepped up, and I think it's just going to get better and better.

"I can't wait to get back in their next year and hopefully take another step forward."

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Fremantle improved to a 12^th place finish in 2020, with the future looking bright under second-year coach Justin Longmuir.

The Dockers were only just outside the finals equation, thanks to three losses under 13 points, an after-the-siren winner against Carlton.

"We're progressing the right way this year, and we're only going to get better and better," Tucker said.

"In our losses we haven't been too far away and we still had a really good season. We're more consistent which is good to see.

"I think with another pre-season under our belt and more training under the new system with JL (Justin Longmuir), we're all going to get more comfortable.

"We want to play finals footy and we want to win a premiership. We won't be happy till that happens and I can see it coming very soon."

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