Fremantle Dockers president Dale Alcock declares need for re-invigoration as reason for dramatic double sacking

Ed Chisholm

Fremantle Dockers president Dale Alcock declares need for re-invigoration as reason for dramatic double sacking image

Fremantle Dockers president says the fact that the club have failed to make the finals in the past four years gave him no other option but to sack coach Ross Lyon and CEO Steve Rosich.

The Dockers announced on Tuesday morning that after eight seasons at the club, and guiding them to the 2013 grand final, Ross Lyon would be marched on.

In the same announcement, it was made official that Rosich, who was on a rolling contract, would also be moved on in a momentous leadership shakeup at the club. 

Alcock addressed the media shortly after the club announced the two departures, saying it was in desperate need of rejuvenation.

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"It's important to acknowledge the contribution that both Ross Lyon as senior coach and Steve Rosich, our CEO, have made to the Fremantle football club," Alcock said.

"Ross Lyon has been with the club for eight years. In his first four seasons, we played finals in each of these, the highlight being the 2013 grand final.

"In taking the decision to seek a new coach the board also reached the conclusion that additional change was required, and as a result, Steve Rosich will also be leaving the club.

"The board has a duty to act in the best interests of its members and supporters and to be bold in making strategic decisions.

"Despite their individual contributions, Fremantle have not made finals for the past four years. This isn't acceptable to the board, the players, and most importantly our supporters.

"This is absolutely about transforming our club. We need to act to ensure we are reinvigorated and re-energised for success in the future.

"To succeed in addressing the challenges that lie ahead, we need high performance and consistency, both on and off the field. We need to change, and we need to evolve."


Alcock confirmed the club had not already pre-filled the now vacant roles, and with finals out of the picture, the Dockers will now commence their widespread search for a new coach and CEO.

"We'll be casting the net as wide as possible over the coming months to find the right people, the best people, the most talented and dedicated people, to join our club and set the course for the next ten years," Alcock said.

"I do want to be clear - no one has been anointed to take over either of these two roles. Our first priority is to identify and engage a new senior coach. 

"We've established a senior coach selection panel consisting of myself, GM of football Peter Bell, and board members Peter Mann and Sue Murphy. We will also appoint an external panel member to provide an independent football perspective.

For Lyon it ends a turbulent eight years at the helm of the West Australian club. The 52-year-old stands as the fourth coach to be axed this season, in what has been an unprecedented season for coaching movements.

Whilst he was strongly rumoured to be in discussions with Carlton , the Blues recently announced interim coach David Teague would be promoted to the senior role .

As it stands, the only vacant coaching position remains at St. Kilda, where Lyon dramatically left to join the Dockers in 2012. 

Ed Chisholm

Ed Chisholm Photo

Ed Chisholm is a content producer for Sporting News Australia.