From Rebuild to Premiership: The Fremantle Dockers' Decade-Long Journey

A decade ago, the Fremantle Dockers concluded the 2016 AFL season with a clear plan in place. Now, that plan is finally coming to fruition.

Football is replete with pivotal moments that can alter the course of a team's trajectory. For the Fremantle Dockers, one such moment was when Lachie Weller requested a trade to Gold Coast. This move led to Andrew Brayshaw joining the club, a decision that has had a lasting impact on the team's dynamics.

AFL Recruitment: A Mix of Preparation and Luck

AFL recruitment, particularly during the draft, is a delicate balance of meticulous preparation and a dash of good fortune. The current Dockers roster has been lauded for its 'purity' from a recruitment standpoint, with no father-son selections, no free agents, and no players acquired through AFL concessions or free agent compensation picks.

The Fremantle squad that recently trained for a grand final has been carefully assembled, with a clear strategy in place. This journey began in 2016, a year that marked a significant turning point for the club.

"It was pretty clear the list was old, but finishing so high on the ladder in 2015, it's sort of hard to basically finish on top and then enter a rebuild phase," Fremantle's former national recruiting manager Brad Lloyd said.

Lloyd, who joined the Dockers in 2008, was no stranger to building a competitive list. He was part of the recruitment team that helped construct Fremantle's 2013 grand final side.

In 2008 and 2009, Fremantle utilized 23 draft picks to create the core of the squad that would go on to be competitive throughout the mid-2010s. However, the team struggled in 2016, prompting a reset.

"Some decisions were made to reset again, which ended up in some pretty experienced players finishing up and the club going back to the draft," Lloyd said.

The 2019 Draft: A Watershed Moment

The 2019 draft proved to be a pivotal moment in Fremantle's rebuild. The club selected Hayden Young, Caleb Serong, and Liam Henry with picks seven, eight, and nine, respectively, before securing Michael Frederick at pick 61.

"The 2019 draft was something that we pegged in that we thought could really change the platform of the footy club," Mark Micallef, a member of the Dockers' recruitment team at the time, said.

Micallef highlighted the significance of selecting Frederick, a player who was considered a 'diamond in the rough' with a unique skill set and strong work ethic.

"You're trying to find the diamonds in the rough and you're looking for guys that could have a trait or an ability that not many others can see," Micallef said.

Playing the Long Game

The Dockers' rebuild was a long-term process that required patience and strategic planning. One player who exemplifies this approach is Luke Jackson, a ruck who was described as a 'unicorn' due to his unique abilities.

Fremantle laid the groundwork for Jackson's potential return, and their efforts eventually paid off.

"We knew he was going to the top three, but we actually put a lot of groundwork into him that year saying, 'if you ever decide to come back, we want to be the club of your choice,'" Micallef said.

The Dockers' persistence and forward planning ultimately led to Jackson and Shai Bolton returning to Western Australia as premiership players.

A Special Place

Brad Lloyd and Mark Micallef, both of whom have moved on from their roles at Fremantle, look back on their time with the club with fond memories.

"Fremantle was a very special place. They were very good to me personally," Lloyd said.

Lloyd and Micallef expressed their well-wishes to the club, praising the stability and continuity that has contributed to Fremantle's success.