Fremantle CEO Simon Garlick says the lure of premiership glory this year won’t distract from his goal of guiding the AFL club to a period of sustained success.
Fremantle have shot into flag contention on the back of their stunning 9-3 start to the season.
Wins over defending premiers Melbourne and second-placed Brisbane in the past fortnight have further fuelled belief that Fremantle can go all the way this year despite not playing finals since 2015.
Fremantle unveiled an ambitious four-year plan at the end of 2021 which included claiming the club’s maiden AFL and AFLW premierships by 2025 and averaging 50,000 fans for its AFL home games at Optus Stadium.
Garlick would love for the team to achieve premiership glory this year but also has an eye on the bigger picture.
“We’re not setting any limits on us,” Garlick said.
“This is year two of this strategic plan. If we are able to tick off some of those aspirations and goals, that would be fantastic.
“Our over-riding aim is to build a club and a team that can sustainably contend, and can do so over a five, 10, 15-year period.
“There’s precedents of it all over the competition, and it can be done.
“That’s our over-riding aim. If success can come early, that’s fantastic. But we’re focusing on that big picture.”
Like Senior Coach Justin Longmuir, Garlick is encouraging a mentality of staying grounded through his leadership.
“There’s no real discernible change internally,” Garlick said.
“We’re at round 12. It’s a long season. There’s plenty of work for us to do. We haven’t achieved anything as yet.
“It’s been a pleasing start and something that we envisaged would happen over these coming years. But from our perspective, it’s really important we remain even.”
Fremantle will be aiming to snare their third win on the trot when they take on Hawthorn at Optus Stadium on Saturday.
This round, Fremantle are joining forces with the WA Police Force for the Let’s Join Forces match, to celebrate them and all they do for the WA Community.
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