Fremantle has built an environment that is desirable for both its own players and those looking to head to WA, according to Executive General Manager of Football Peter Bell.
In an interview on Channel 7 that aired on Sunday, Bell spoke proudly about the work coaches and staff had put in to make Fremantle a place where opposition players were ‘expressing interest’ to come to the Club.
That environment saw results improve on the field in 2022, with Fremantle returning to finals for the first time since 2015.
“We’re at a stage with the environment that we’ve created, where there are players who are expressing interest,” Bell said.
“Sometimes they express interest for a whole variety of reasons, but expressing interest in potentially moving to Western Australia and playing for Fremantle.
“That wasn’t the case a while ago, so things have changed a little bit.”
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These thoughts were echoed by defender Luke Ryan, who spoke about joining the likes of fellow Victorians Caleb Serong and Hayden Young by committing to the Club until the end of the 2027 season.
“I had a few offers (from Victorian clubs),” Ryan told The West Australian.
“It was pretty much just becoming a Docker for life. Talking to parents and my pop, I said hopefully I’m going to be here for the rest of my life.
“The Dockers picked me up with pick 66, I didn’t think I was going to get drafted so I owe everything to them.
“With what the Club is doing and where we’re going, it was pretty hard to leave, so I’m happy I made that choice.
“We’re loving each other’s company and the chemistry is building every year, we’re all young and we’re all eager to get better.”
Despite adding significantly to their list in the off-season through the draft and the trade acquisitions of Luke Jackson, Jaeger O’Meara and Josh Corbett, Bell said the job would never be complete.
“It’s never finished, your list profile,” Bell said.
“We’re really comfortable with the character of the group we have, but it’s not finished and I don’t think it’s ever finished.
“Certainly, we’ll look at free agency, trade and the draft.”
With at least five years ahead of him in purple, Ryan also hopes to see plenty of success.
“Hopefully more than one (premiership), hopefully we can snag three or four,” Ryan said.
“That would be good.”
Part two of Bell's interview with Ryan Daniels will air on 7NEWS on Monday night.
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