Emerging Fremantle star Connor Blakely says it’s just a matter of time before he re-signs with the AFL club and he hopes coach Ross Lyon will be there with him for the ride.
Blakely comes out of contract at the end of this season and would attract significant interest if he wanted to test out his value on the open market.
But the 23-year-old is keen to stay at the Dockers and expects a fresh deal to be completed soon.
The futures of Victorian Ed Langdon, unrestricted free agent Stephen Hill and the in-demand Brad Hill are other issues Fremantle will need to address over the next two months.
Lyon’s position is the biggest talking point of them all.
The veteran coach is contracted to Fremantle until the end of 2020, but has been linked to the vacant position at Carlton.
Even if Lyon stays at Fremantle in 2020 as expected his hopes for a contract extension will be dictated by how the Dockers fare next season.
Blakely was full of praise for Lyon and doesn’t feel there is a threat the 52-year-old will leave this season.
“There’s always names that are thrown up for different coaching roles,” Blakely said.
“I think it’s just chatter and people just put a name to a club whenever a club becomes available. You don’t read too much into it.
“Ross is a great coach and he has such a great record for a reason. So I’m hoping he stays and I know he will.”
Fremantle revived their finals hopes with a one-point win over Sydney on Saturday night.
The result lifted the Dockers back to within a win and percentage of eighth spot, but they’ll need to beat the Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Sunday to stay in the finals hunt.
Lyon copped widespread criticism during the club’s recent four-match losing run and Blakely said the players were happy to get a win for their coach.
“People rave about him when we’re going well and they’re off him when we’re not going well,” Blakely said.
“But it’s about the classic quote from him – it’s never as good, it’s never as bad as what it seems.”
The Dockers have matched the mark of eight wins they notched last year and Blakely is daring to dream of gatecrashing the finals.
“It’s still definitely the aim and anything less will be a disappointment I feel,” Blakely said.
“We’ve had a few years without playing finals. Everyone’s really keen to get back in there and experience it. We’ve just got to keep building and keep playing well.”