• The phone call Ross did not want to get

• Hooker rejects free agency

• Who's on the market? Nick Bowen's free agency update



AFTER Cale Hooker became the latest key-position player to rebuff an offer from Fremantle, an obvious question arose: what now for Fremantle?



The answer hasn't changed. It will go back to the list of key-position players that might fit their needs and reboot with confidence.



Top of that list will once again be West Australian born-and-bred boys, the group coach Ross Lyon identified as the club's potential targets soon after Victorian James Frawley decided to join Hawthorn, rather than Fremantle, at the end of 2014.



There are 74 West Australians on AFL lists (not including Fremantle and West Coast's) and although few are key-position types, the Dockers, despite being 0-5, can construct a story of hope and have some players with currency on their list to reshape it in the future.



Lachie Neale is not the only player out of contract that would attract interest if he doesn't commit to the club, with free agents Chris Mayne and Zac Clarke, as well as Michael Barlow, Tendai Mzungu, Clancee Pearce and Danyle Pearce, all players they could take to market.



They will also, on current ladder position, have their first top-10 pick since Anthony Morabito joined the club via pick four at the end of 2009.



Unfortunately, there are very few tall forwards at the top end of this year's draft - which Lyon rightfully notes is where each club's key players are normally found - but the Dockers will enter calculations for the talented West Australian Sam Petrevski-Seton who shapes as a top-five pick.



Petrevski-Seton is a talented midfielder who adds depth to an area that remains the Dockers' strength, with Harley Bennell and Lachie Weller likely to put their stamp on the team in the next couple of seasons, alongside Nathan Fyfe, Stephen Hill, Michael Walters, Hayden Crozier, Tom Sheridan and Hayden Ballantyne.



Not to mention the club is overseen by a coach who appears fired up by the challenge of pushing the same club into contention twice in different eras.



That coach remains in the driver's seat until at least 2020.



Improvement won't happen overnight but the club's position is not disastrous.



So who are potential West Australian talls for the Dockers' list management team to consider?



1. Cam McCarthy (Greater Western Sydney)

Most expect McCarthy to join Fremantle at the end of the season although he is contracted with the Giants until the end of 2017. His worth will become a debating point later in the year, but he won't command as much value as he would have at the end of last season. Perhaps a future first round pick (2017) could get a deal done.



2. Jesse Hogan (Melbourne)

Contracted until end of 2017 and not wanting to think about his future until at least the end of this season. The Demons are improving and the case for him to stay is becoming stronger.



3. Rory Lobb (Greater Western Sydney)

The 205cm forward has starred in the first five games and is a great contested mark. He is contracted until the end of 2017 and likely to be a Giant beyond that date however many clubs will chase him hard when he next comes out of contract and he could command big offers. The Giants also have key forwards such as Jeremy Cameron, Jonathan Patton, James Stewart, Adam Tomlinson and emerging Academy graduates Todd Marshall and Max Lynch.



4. Corey Gault (Collingwood)

Out of contract at season's end and looks to have blown an early season chance to establish himself inside the Magpies forward line. Has size and talent but is yet to take his opportunity.



5. Shane Kersten (Geelong)

Out of contract at season's end but is now a regular in the Cats line-up. However with Nathan Vardy on the sidelines and Geelong keen to consider Mitch Clark a long-term venture, he can't afford to settle.



6. Tom Lee (St Kilda)

Out of contract at season's end. Lee has been playing senior football in defence recently but often has stints in the VFL.



7. Aaron Black (North Melbourne)

Contracted until end of 2017 and the Dockers were luke warm by the end of last season. He is playing VFL at the moment.



Other out-of-contract West Australians

Jaeger O'Meara (Gold Coast): Victoria or Gold Coast most likely.

David Myers (Essendon): A strong midfielder likely to be fresh after two years on sidelines.

Tayte Pears (Essendon): A back-up defender who might be tempted by opportunity

Brandon Matera (Gold Coast): In and out of the team but has talent

Neville Jetta (Melbourne): He will stay at the emerging Demons