FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon has warned the club cannot take it for granted that injured star Nat Fyfe will re-sign.

Lyon said the Dockers must show the reigning Brownlow medallist that their plan for success will work.

Fyfe's season ended in round five with a leg fracture - one of a number of disasters that hit Fremantle this year as they plummeted out of premiership contention.

After that round-five loss to Carlton, Lyon declared they had to re-stump, re-wire and re-plumb.

Last weekend, club chief executive Steve Rosich outlined a plan for the Dockers to recruit heavily through the next three to four national drafts as they rebuild their playing list.

Fyfe is likely to be Fremantle's next captain and Lyon said the 24-year-old was exerting his leadership around the club.

But the coach pointed out that Fyfe also wanted to achieve success.

"You have to bring people along for the journey ... they have to buy into the plan," Lyon told Fox Footy.

"So as we finalise it and decisions are made, you have to bring Nathan along.

"If Nathan believes in that plan and he sees success coming his way, he'll be there, I have no doubt.

"But if he doesn't believe in the plan, and we don't bring him along, he'd be a chance to leave."

Lyon hopes Fremantle can return to the finals next season, and said the draft was their best option to rebuild the team.

"We could load up and attract free agents and uncontracted players, but if that failed then you'd be in a real hole," he said.

"We want to take care of the present and the future at the same time.

"We don't want to sell the farm, either ... we would still like to play finals next year.

"We think it's possible – anything's possible."