FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon says the Dockers' win in Matthew Pavlich's final game does not sweep the club's horrific season under the carpet. 

The Dockers sent Pavlich out in style with just their fourth win of the year against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday. 

But they finished the season in 16th spot on the AFL ladder, just 12 months after claiming the minor premiership and hosting a preliminary final.

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Lyon said that a big period of change was coming at the club just two days after conceding that the rebuild could take up to four years to bear fruit.

"Certainly it's been a challenging year and it has been for a number of reasons," Lyon said.

"We don't sweep it under the carpet – a lot of lessons to learn and a big period of change and transition.

"As someone said to me once, the only constant in AFL football is change.

"Clearly there will be some more change to come over the next period of time, as we establish our full list. So we understand that."

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Lyon would not elaborate on any specific list changes but there is likely to be anywhere between 10 and 14 players turned over.

Pavlich's was sent into retirement in style but Chris Mayne and Hayden Ballantyne quietly hugged teammates out on the ground as Pavlich did his lap of honour.

Mayne is set to become a free agent and looks likely to take up an offer from a Melbourne club. Ballantyne has a year to run on his contract but the 29-year-old appears likely to be on the move via a trade. 

Zac Clarke, Matt de Boer and Clancee Pearce are all set to become free agents while Michael Barlow, Alex Silvagni, Tendai Mzungu, Anthony Morabito, Jack Hannath, Josh Deluca and Tanner Smith are coming of contract.

Up to 20 players are set to be involved in the WAFL finals series for Peel Thunder, including Clarke, de Boer, Pearce, Silvagni, Mzungu, Morabito, Hannath and Deluca.

Those players will continue training and no decision to be made on their futures until Peel's season is complete.

WATCH: Pav says goodbye 

The rest of the squad will have exit meetings on Monday and Tuesday and begin a 10-week break.

Lyon said the club would be in no hurry to make any decisions.

"We'll give it plenty of time. There's no urgency on anything," Lyon said.

Lyon confirmed that there would be no personnel changes to the coaching staff for next season with the exception of Peter Sumich who has already vacated his role as head of development, but there could be a restructure. 

Lyon said he would meet with the leadership group to get some feedback ahead of the pre-season and expected his players to look after themselves during the break.

WATCH: Ross Lyon's full post-match press conference  

"Anyone who thinks they can go and have 10 weeks off and sit on a cabana and drink Sailor Jerry and dry all day and eat hamburgers, that's not the way it works," Lyon said. 

"But we know we've got a good group. We want them to refresh and renew.

"But if they carry themselves like Matthew Pavlich has for the last 17 years we'll be in good shape."