FREMANTLE coach Mark Harvey has called on the AFL to look at changing rules relating to approaching players during the season in the wake of the Robert Warnock saga.
Warnock, 21, was recently given a board room presentation by Melbourne, and other clubs have shown interest, acting on rumours the injured Freo ruckman was keen to return home to Victoria.
Harvey, speaking at Freo's Princes Park training on Friday ahead of Saturday's clash with Richmond, said the AFL needed to learn from other codes.
"I'm sure (AFL chief executive) Andrew Demetriou and those sorts of guys are big on loyalty and the trusting nature of the game and where it is heading and maybe we should leave it alone (approaching players) until the end of the year," he said.
"We've still got a month or six weeks for possible moves, so why should it happen during a season?
"I find it interesting that clubs talk about other players from other clubs prematurely. In many ways they give themselves (and their trade position) up
"I can sit here and take pot shots at players from other clubs that I would like to get to Fremantle, but I don’t do that.
"Robbie's a terrific kid and I am not sure he needs the pressure he is going through at such a young age."
Warnock has played 12 matches this year but has been out of action since round 17 and has recently had a shoulder reconstruction. He is out of contract at the end of the season.
Harvey also said the push towards youth in the AFL was overrated and that experienced players were still the main drivers of success or failure.
Using evergreen Tiger Matthew Richardson as an example, Harvey said filling up a list with youngsters wasn’t the winning formula.
“I think it is a credit to Matthew Richardson that he is one of the elite runners in the competition at his age,” Harvey said.
“And I think our industry has moved swiftly towards youth when it is not necessarily the way to go.
“That can be forced upon us from various angles looking for success but I just don’t think it’s the total answer to success.
“You have to have the experienced players that have played for a long period of time because in the end they are the conductors of where your team finishes up a lot of the time.”
On the other side of the country, Freo also announced on Friday the re-signing of emerging defenders Brock O'Brien and Josh Head for next season.
Head made his debut in the club's four-point loss to Essendon in round 14 and he added two more games to his tally before a knee injury cut short the 25-year-old's season.
O'Brien, 20, made his AFL debut last year but has played just two games this season in an injury-interrupted campaign.
