Behind the scenes, one man has shaped the Fremantle Dockers like know other.
General manager of player management Brad Lloyd and his team of recruiters dotted around Australia have been responsible for transforming the club.
Since Lloyd started at Fremantle in 2008, 37 of the club’s current list have arrived.
Among those names are Nat Fyfe, Michael Barlow, Michael Walters, Stephen Hill, Lachie Neale and Hayden Ballantyne.
Lloyd and his team spend most weekends watching the next generation of football talent in leagues across the country.
“You’re on the road a lot as a recruiter,” Lloyd told AFL.com.au.
“There are so many games to watch each week.
“You don’t get involved in the win and loss roller coaster as much as you would at the club each day.”
When Lloyd arrived at the club in 2008 he led arguably the largest rejuvenation of Fremantle’s list that began with 14 players delisted, retired or traded.
It sparked a massive trade and draft period that has defined its on field success since.
“We knew two new clubs were coming in, we knew we had to make a move on our list,” he said.
“From an age point of view we were one of the oldest.”
Fremantle entered the period with 14 picks across the national and rookie draft.
The names that arrived at the club through those drafts have become the back bone of the side.
“That draft has been pretty important to us,” he said.
“It was a good draft to start with, it was very strong.”
Among those to arrive in 2008 were Walters, Hill, Ballantyne, Clancee Pearce, Zac Clarke, Nick Suban and Matt de Boer.
Combined, that group has played 745 games with an average age of just 25.
From Melbourne, Lloyd keeps a keen eye watching over the country to find the next group of players who will don the purple guernsey.
“It’s good to be close to the AFL,” he said.
“Nearly every club recruiting team is based in Melbourne.”
Lloyd and the recruiters are preparing for another busy draft period come November.
