Australian Rules Hall of Famer Terry Wallace has delivered a brutal assessment of Fremantle’s list - blasting a forward line which will be ‘barren’ if they don’t land trade targets Jesse Hogan and Rory Lobb.

Delivering his take on the Dockers’ list in a segment on Trade Radio, the three-time Hawthorn premiership player said the club didn’t move forward in 2018 and predicted they would tread water again next year rather than challenge for finals.

The Dockers, under coach Ross Lyon, finished 14th this season with an 8-14 record and a percentage which ranked in the competition’s bottom four.

It was the exact same record they finished season 2017 with, although their percentage did increase very narrowly.

Wallace said questions needed to be asked regardless of what happens in next week’s trade period.

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“There are still some serious questions that need to be asked about the club’s long-term direction and in fact how long this journey will take,” he said.

Camera Icon Lachie Neale is expected to link up with Brisbane next season. Credit: Getty Images

“In my personal opinion they are still miles off the potential finals teams.

“Talk of unrest and some unusual re-signings plus the change to key staff has us watching the Dockers with real, genuine interest.”

Fremantle have been chasing a power forward at the trade table for years, but this off-season shapes as their most realistic chance of landing a replacement for former skipper Matthew Pavlich.

Melbourne’s Hogan has indicated he would be keen to explore a move home to WA, though how that trade works out is yet to be seen, while the Giants are battling salary cap pressure and could reportedly be talked into a deal for Lobb.

Wallace said the Dockers’ inability to hit the scoreboard - they ranked bottom-three for scoring last season - meant they needed to land one, or potentially both of the big marking forwards.

Camera Icon Rory Lobb is a target for Freo this offseason. Credit: Ross Swanborough

“If they haven’t got those two blokes they just haven’t got enough there,” he said.

“Without getting the blokes in I think they are barren as a forward line.”

However, he said not even signing Hogan and Lobb would help them climb the ladder next season, singling out the midfield as one of the concerns going into 2019.

“I’m not buying stocks in the Dockers regardless of how the trade period plays out,” he said.

“The midfield just doesn’t bat deep enough for me and it will get bashed up by the powerful teams in the competition.

“If they can secure Hogan and Lobb it will help them compete and they will hold ground.

“If they fail to deliver they will lose faith and lose ground.

“I just don’t think that they’ve got enough midfield power to supply those guys enough to be able to get it done.”