FREMANTLE "hasn't lost hope" that luckless midfielder Anthony Morabito can play more AFL football as he continues to endure problems with his troublesome left knee.

Morabito has been absent from training in recent weeks and was only sighted briefly before the Dockers' main session began on Friday morning. 

He had surgery in January on his thrice-reconstructed knee to relieve ongoing soreness that had lingered from an operation following a training injury last September.

Fremantle's football operations manager Chris Bond told The West Australian on Saturday that the club would remain patient with Morabito and give him all the time and support he needed.

"We haven't lost hope. We will keep working with him," Bond said

"Our main thing is for him to get some continuity in his training and his playing for Peel.

"The meniscus operation – there have been some hiccups with that along the way.

"There is not a timeline for him. We are not going to put that pressure on him and he doesn't have to put it on himself. He has just got to get to a stage where he can do the work and play.

"It was a significant enough injury on the meniscus for it to be an interrupted pre-season. It was always going to be an interrupted pre-season and there has been a bit of soreness and a bit of swelling from it and we are just making sure we are precautionary on that and that we allow it time to settle so he can train and play fully.

"He has shown great character and courage. Ross Lyon has been a fantastic support to him and will continue to be."

The 23-year-old was one of the feel-good stories of 2014. He returned to the Dockers' side in round 16 against Melbourne after three knee reconstructions had kept him out of football since an eye-catching debut season in 2010. 

He played three consecutive matches, two as the substitute, before losing his place following Fremantle's round 18 loss to St Kilda. 

Morabito signed a one-year deal with the Dockers for the 2015 season.