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 disastrous 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.
"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.
More changes appear to be on the way, with youngster Harley Balic requesting a trade back to Victoria, while Hayden Crozier is being courted by the Western Bulldogs and uncontracted tall forward Matt Taberner hasn’t recommitted.
After bringing in four recruits last year, the Dockers will again be active in the upcoming NAB AFL Trade Period, targeting Gold Coast small forward Brandon Matera and damaging Giants half-back Nathan Wilson.
Superstar skipper Fyfe has also reportedly met with Melbourne's gun forward Jesse Hogan, who has long been on the Dockers' radar.
But 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."
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 AFLW 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.
