General manager of football operations Chris Bond on Tuesday advised staff that he will depart the club at the end of November.
Bond will step down from his role as general manager of football operations but will continue to assist the club in its planning and preparation for the 2018 Trade Period and National Draft.
This transition will also allow Bond to complete a handover of his role to Fremantle staff.
Fremantle CEO Steve Rosich also addressed staff today and paid tribute to Bond, saying that the former club captain had dedicated 14 years to the club as a player and administrator and was held in the highest regard.
“Chris is a person of the highest calibre and integrity who has made an outstanding contribution to the Fremantle Football Club over a long period of time, which he will always be remembered and respected for,” Rosich said.
“Chris played a key role in helping to drive our football department and develop the staff and playing group which secured Fremantle’s first grand final appearance in 2013, a minor premiership in 2015 and a sustained period of playing finals’ football, with five finals series appearances in the six years between 2010 and 2015.
“On behalf of everyone associated with Fremantle, we extend our deepest gratitude to Chris for everything he has done for the club and wish Chris and his family all the very best for the future.”
Rosich said the departure of Bond and recent exit of former general manager of list management Brad Lloyd to the head of football role at Carlton provided the opportunity to restructure the club’s football department.
“The club is undertaking a restructure of its football operations. We are seeking to appoint two people to key roles in our football operations department to ensure that we are best placed to drive our future on-field performance, develop our young playing list and provide an environment for our players and football staff to thrive, grow and improve,” Rosich said.
“We have a short list of potential candidates and we will now begin the process of identifying the preferred candidates for both roles.”
Bond, who addressed staff on Tuesday afternoon at a meeting called to advise them of his departure, took on the role of general manager of list development in 2007 before being appointed the club’s general manager of football operations in 2008.
"It has been a privilege to be involved with Fremantle. I have spent almost 30 years in the AFL as a player, coach and administrator, including 14 years at this club, and have shared some great memories” Bond said.
“I have always been heavily invested and committed to Fremantle, with the sole aim of always doing what was in the best interests of the club.
“I have been in discussions with Steve Rosich for some time about the best way forward for myself and we agreed that the time was right to announce my departure today.
“I take this opportunity to thank all of the players, staff, members and supporters for all of the support, advice and encouragement they have provided throughout my time at Fremantle.
“Most of all a big thank you to my wife, Gina and our three children for the unwavering support and care they have shown over a very long time.”
Bond’s 10-year, 163-game career as a player (1990-1999) included 41 games with Fremantle, 100 games with Richmond (winning the Jack Dyer Medal in 1994) and 22 games with Carlton (where he started his AFL career).
Following his playing career, which ended in 1999 after captaining Fremantle for one season, Bond took up a coaching role with the Western Bulldogs in 2000.
