FREMANTLE will travel to the other side of Australia next month and stage an intensive training camp on the Gold Coast in a bid to drill Ross Lyon's game plan into the playing group.
The Dockers are determined to hit the ground running in 2019 and make the most of a friendly early-season fixture against three non-finalists from this year in North Melbourne (home), Gold Coast (away) and St Kilda (home) before the first Western Derby.
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"This year we've got for the first time a camp on the east coast, on the Gold Coast, in that December period, which is designed around our coaching team really drilling in the game plan and making sure they're on the same page," CEO Steve Rosich said.
"On the basis that we have a good November to March, which is certainly the plan, we look forward to that start of the fixture."
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Rosich said a combination of good facilities and weather were reasons to venture to the Gold Coast, a four-and-a-half-hour flight from Perth.
It will also provide the chance for team bonding after Jesse Hogan, Rory Lobb, Reece Conca and Travis Colyer joined during the NAB AFL Trade Period, with another draft crop set to come on board this month.
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"The clear focus is game plan education," Rosich said.
"We've got a very young squad, notwithstanding we've added some experienced talent, albeit all relatively young, via the Trade Period recently.
"We're going to add another four draftees. Effectively, we've only got 15 or 16 players (15) on our list now that were on our list in 2016 so, as planned, a really new group.
"It's important for our coaching team to instill that game plan, and they've decided the best way to do that is that one-week camp in December."
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Expectations on Fremantle are set to rise next season after a fruitful Trade Period brought in some much-needed firepower.
The Dockers have ranked bottom-three for scoring in the past three seasons but now have marking targets to build an attack around in Hogan and Lobb.
Rosich didn't declare finals on the agenda for 2019, instead saying the aim was to climb the ladder after finishing 14th this year.
While Freo's fixture for next season looks tricky – with 'double-up' games against Essendon, Port Adelaide, St Kilda, the Bulldogs and West Coast – he was pleased with the club's home schedule.
The Dockers are set for four Saturday night games at Optus Stadium in 2019, and have cut their Sunday afternoon encounters by two matches next season.
"Last year, we had too many Sunday games (seven) and that was disappointing," Rosich said.
"We don't have that issue this year, so that's really pleasing."
Freo is one of only three clubs without a marquee weeknight game after the League swapped the Dockers' round six Len Hall Tribute Game against the Dogs from a Friday evening to Saturday night.
