FREMANTLE will be "proactive and aggressive" during the free agency and trade period in order to bolter its list with top-end talent, according to Dockers CEO Steve Rosich.

After winning the minor premiership for the time in its history, Fremantle's season came to an end on Friday night with a 27-point loss to two-time reigning premiers Hawthorn.

Following the defeat, coach Ross Lyon conceded Fremantle needed to improve its attack and would have to find a way to get more front-end talent on to its list.

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With the possible retirement of Matthew Pavlich and with young key forwards Michael Apeness and Matt Taberner still developing, the Dockers are in need of more firepower.

Fremantle reportedly has its sights on contracted Giants forward Cam McCarthy, who wants to return to his native state of Western Australia.

Since Lyon took over the helm, the Dockers have held on to their first and second round picks, choosing to add to their list predominantly through the draft.

But Roisch said the club needed to look outside the draft in order to "infuse new talent".

"Whether it's free agency or trade or pre-season draft, they're all mechanisms that we'll look at," Rosich told SEN on Saturday.

"We're pretty advanced in some discussions so we'll continue to be proactive and aggressive and add to our list.

"We think there's an opportunity to use some of our early picks this year and potentially next year to bring some talent in so we'll work hard to do it."

Tears flow by Pavlich yet to decide future

Lyon also said after the Dockers' loss, that the club had tried, and failed, to lure key forwards Lance Franklin, Travis Cloke and Kurt Tippett.

Rosich said the club's unwillingness to compromise on its principles had been a key reason why the Dockers have missed out on some big names in the past.

"We've certainly looked at a few [big name players] over the last few seasons, and there's been different reasons for each of those," he said.

"I guess one of the reasons is that we always stick to our principles. If we think a deal is a good deal, we'll do it. If we don't think it is, we won't.

"Often it's money, often it's what a club is looking in return for a player that's not commercial or appropriate to do. I think that's held us in good stead, we've built a good footy club and one that we want to get better."

The AFL's trade period begins on October 12.