Fremantle’s reliance on their star players is a concern entering the final stages of a four-year rebuild, according to Hawthorn premiership player Xavier Ellis.

It should be even more of a concern after getting a close look at how nailing draft picks and developing young talent can help you rebuild on the run.

The Dockers’ recruiting and development has come under the microscope after a 49-point loss to the Western Bulldogs, with a lack of young players taking control of the team’s destiny.

Ellis analysed each of the Dockers’ past four drafts on the latest episode of the Hard Ball Gets AFL Show and said the club had not laid the foundations for future success.

“They’re going through a rebuild, Freo, and I get that,” Ellis said.

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“But you’ve gone and invested in a rebuild and you’d hope there was one player in each draft where you say, ‘He’s going to be a potential All Australian’.

“I went back and looked at it over the weekend .. I don’t know if those foundations are there. They’re still so heavily reliant on Nat Fyfe and Michael Walters.”

While No.2 draft pick Andrew Brayshaw impressed against the Bulldogs, Ellis said the Dockers had otherwise failed to draft a young player that looked capable of earning All Australian selection.

The Bulldogs, by comparison, have stockpiled elite young talent in the past four drafts while finishing eighth, first, 10th and 13th.

In those four drafts they have recruited father-son midfielder Josh Dunkley, WA ruckman Tim English, WA key position player Aaron Naughton, and exciting midfielder Bailey Smith.

Listen to the full chat from the 14-minute mark of the below podcast.

Full episode rundown: