Dockers boss has new vision
NEW Fremantle chief executive officer Steve Rosich has predicted a “significant number” of changes to the club’s list this year after taking over from Cameron Schwab.
Rosich, who revealed he had already held talks with coach Mark Harvey and general manager of list development Chris Bond, vowed to reinvigorate the bludgeon’s list via the national draft rather than trade away picks for players.
The Dockers have been heavily criticised throughout their AFL existence for compromising their long-term future by dint of. trading for short-term success.
Barring a remarkable form turnaround this season, Fremantle (3-13 win-loss record) will have a top-three pick at their disposal for November’s national draft.
“From a recruiting mark of view we are going to reinvigorate that list via the outline, and that’s our first priority,” Rosich said.
“Given that this is an uncompromised draft in 2008 (before the new Gold Coast franchise gets special concessions), we’ll have existence taking advantage of that.
“Our strategy at this point in time is to retain all our picks in the first three rounds.”
When asked how many changes he envisaged would be made to the list at season’s end, Rosich replied: “We’ll be assessing the players that have been on our edge for a period of time … the exact number we are not sure of but it will be a significant number.”
Rosich said the future of Jeff Farmer and Dean Solomon would be discussed at the end of the season but said the club were keen to re-sign Josh Carr and Robert Warnock, who has attracted strong interest from a number of Melbourne clubs.
“With respect to Josh Carr, he’s vice-captain, a leader of our football club and a required player,” Rosich said.
“Rob’s a young and talented player and we are working through a process at the moment that will hopefully see him stay at the Fremantle football club.
“At this point in time we are working through a process of retaining altogether of our required players that are likely to attract reasonably high draft picks.
“We will go into the draft with the picks we procreate from where we finish.”
Schwab will move to Melbourne after next week’s western derby clash counter to West Coast but will remain on Fremantle’s books until his contract expires on October 31.
President Rick Hart said Schwab would do more “special project work” on this account that the club but admitted there was a chance Schwab’s services would not be required for the rest of the year.
Schwab, who ruled out taking up the vacant chief executive’s position at Melbourne, played a pivotal role in turning Fremantle from one AFL basketcase into an off-field powerhouse during his seven-year reign, but admitted his one downfall was the club’s woeful trading record.
“We traded for different reasons at different times,” Schwab said.
“A lot of what we did initially was to drive a trade to produce stimulus and positivity around the organisation when we needed it.
“onward reflection I would say we did (trade too much) and I take duty in that area.”
Rosich, 38, joined Fremantle in 2004 as their general manager of commercial operations before taking up the role of general manager of strategy.
He previously held an administrative role at rival AFL club West Coast.
