Recovered ex-Docker still dreams of big time

It has been called the invisible enemy and for former Docker Alex Howson it was his worst nightmare.

The 20-year-old was given a dream opportunity when he was rookie-listed by Fremantle for the 2013 season.

Yet less than a year into his time at the Dockers, the crippling effects of chronic fatigue syndrome forced him to walk away from an AFL club in premiership mode.

A 197cm key forward from Booragoon who fitted Fre- mantle's needs perfectly, Howson was unable to recover from the intense training loads at AFL level and game days in the WAFL because of the condition.

He picked up chest infections, battled constant nausea, took antibiotics and wasn't sleeping.

Efforts to push through the symptoms made them worse.

Howson was first diagnosed with the condition at the age of 15, but had never felt so bad.

"I'd played my first league game for East Fremantle against West Perth," Howson said.

"I had a pretty good game. I think I ran 15½ kilometres. But after the game I was just absolutely shattered. I couldn't recover.

"That week I woke up for training on Tuesday morning, got to the club and I'd already picked up a chest infection.

"I was trying to train because I wanted to play the next week. I ended up getting through the week and playing against Swan Districts and then I woke up the next morning and I couldn't move. I knew at that point my body just couldn't take it."

Howson was one of five players de-listed by Fremantle at the end of last season. In truth, the club allowed him to make the call.

"By far it was the hardest decision that I've ever made," Howson said.

"I was probably getting sicker because I was getting so anxious about it."

Howson has used this year to concentrate on his recovery.

He scaled back his football, sitting out all training early in the year. He returned to colts level with amateur club Fremantle CBC where he spent time as a stay-at-home forward and played alongside school friends.

On Monday night, Howson was named the best player of the A-Grade colts competition for 2014.

His immune system is on the mend and he plans to return to the Sharks for pre-season.

"I want to go back to WAFL level next year," Howson said.

"At some stage I want to give it a big crack because my end goal is I want to get back to playing AFL footy."