Frawley flies in as Freo look to future
Free agent James Frawley could be bound for Fremantle, with the Melbourne defender believed to have met Dockers officials over the past 48 hours.
The 25-year-old flew to Perth on Saturday afternoon just hours before the Dockers bowed out of the finals.
Frawley was spotted arriving at Perth Airport with girlfriend Kasey Todd.
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The couple flew business class on a Virgin flight with only an overnight bag and were collected from the airport by a chauffeured car.
It is believed Frawley visited the club's headquarters at Fremantle Oval.
The out-of-contract Demon is yet to make an announcement on his playing future.
Frawley has been the biggest target under free agency this year and the 2010 All-Australian's signing would be a massive boost to Fremantle's defence with veteran Luke McPharlin expected to retire.
At 193cm, Frawley would give the Dockers another big body in defence and bring 139 matches of experience.
He is expected to command at least $550,000 a year but the retirement of McPharlin could free up the funds needed to sign the Demon.
Geelong are also interested in snaring Frawley.
West Coast are not expected to be in the race given they already have a wealth of tall options in defence and up forward.
Frawley put contract talks on hold at the start of the season, despite Paul Roos' arrival as Melbourne coach.
Ross Lyon said in the wake of Fremantle's straight sets finals exit that free agency remained a key part of the club's strategy.
"There's plenty of mechanisms to attract talent," the Fremantle coach said.
"We'll draft, we'll look at free agency, we'll trade and we'll improve. Everyone said that about Sydney years ago.
"You get a couple through the door, you shoot the eyes out of your drafting, you trade a couple through and you get a couple of really bona fide free agents.
"It's a pretty exciting time, so I think we're in really good shape."
Meanwhile, Lyon flagged that Michael Walters would be used more in the midfield next year after praising the forward's return from major ankle surgery this year.
He also said Fremantle needed to introduce a better goal-kicking program after booting 6.11 in the first half to butcher their opportunities to bury Port Adelaide.
They were equally wasteful in last year's grand final loss to Hawthorn, kicking 8.14.
"We'd like to work more on our football," Lyon said.
"We'd like more football hours, more time for our coaches to work with players because we think that's an area we can find more of, (as well as having) a better goal-kicking program and more of it."
