Fringe now a sin at Dockers

AFL FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon has sent a strong message to the club’s recruiters – no more fringe players.

The Dockers wrapped up their topsy-turvy AFL season with a brave nine-point loss to Collingwood on Saturday.

It was a significant improvement on their 133-point defeat to Geelong a week earlier and has given fans fresh hope there might be some light at the end of the rebuilding tunnel.

Fremantle will have an early first-round pick at this year’s national draft after finishing 14th for a second consecutive season.

But they have already traded out their second, third and fourth-round picks, meaning they might look to snare ready-made players via free agency or trading in order to bolster their list.

The Dockers have had mixed results on that front in recent years. Defender Joel Hamling and wingman Brad Hill have been big successes. But West Australians Brandon Matera (Gold Coast), Shane Kersten (Geelong) and Cam McCarthy (GWS) have struggled.

The Dockers still have high hopes McCarthy will come good, but the punts on Kersten and Matera appear unlikely to pay off.

Fremantle’s rebuild was dealt a blow last month when list manager Brad Lloyd announced he would be leaving to join Carlton.

The move means Lyon will probably have a more active role in the club’s recruiting – more so in regards to luring current AFL players rather than decisions on which youngsters to draft.

Lyon wants to inject more speed into his line-up, saying that he is after multi-positional midfielders.

“But you’ve got to be quality,” Lyon said.

“If we’re bringing you in as an AFL player and we’re targeting you, there should be no doubt you sit in your best 22.

“Because otherwise you’re shifting people and making promises, and it gets very difficult if they’re not playing.”

Geelong star Tim Kelly, who hails from WA, could be on Fremantle’s radar.

Kelly has averaged 23 disposals and a goal per game this season. Greater Western Sydney big man Rory Lobb is another player who has been linked to Fremantle.

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