Ross Lyon has preached patience with Fremantle's rebuild, insisting that the Dockers will stick to their four-year plan as they continue their list overhaul.
After a four-win 2016 campaign, the Dockers doubled their victories this season and unveiled seven debutants.
But speaking at the Doig Medal presentation on Saturday night, senior coach Lyon reminded his troops and supporters there is plenty of hard work ahead.
Lyon's pride for young leaders
"We're transitioning our list and on the timeline we're about a year and a half in of a plan that's been committed to from our president, CEO, football operations manager, right through really from Nathan (Fyfe), our captain, and myself, and Brad Lloyd our list manager," Lyon said.
"So we've aligned ourselves to the plan, and we're working the plan really hard.
"There's been some tough decisions along the way with some wonderful servants who got squeezed out of the team.
"But it's imperative for where we want to head and we're working the plan really strongly.
"How much benefit next year? We're not too sure. That all depends on how hard we work in the off-season and throughout the year.
"It's going to take some time, but we're in no doubt we're going to get where we want to be in the end."
Fremantle delisted five players this week and has also bid farewell to retiring defenders Zac Dawson and Garrick Ibbotson.
Fremantle list update: 6 October
Lyon is also banking on youth to drive the club's improvement, after 15 Freo-listed players were part of Peel's back-to-back WAFL premiership team.
"If the previous year is a gauge, what Ed Langdon and Connor Blakely were able to take out of performing in WAFL finals and take it into their next year of senior football we should see some real growth," he said.
"The parallel of Luke Ryan winning the (Simpson) medal, as Connor Blakely did, all bodes well for us and the blooding of our young players."
Doig Medal: Luke Ryan wins Beacon Award
Meanwhile, the Dockers are refusing to give any ground in the tug-of-war with West Coast over which club should host a round one game at Perth Stadium next season.
Fremantle's AFL Women's team will play the first-ever football match at the world-class 60,000-seat venue on February 10.
"We're planning on hosting the first AFL game there in round one, also. (CEO) Steve Rosich that's in your capable hands," president Dale Alcock said.
Rosich expected a deal between the WAFC and state government for football to play at the new stadium would be agreed in "just a matter of weeks" after long-running negotiations.
