FREMANTLE is facing a looming identity crisis as it prepares for what is shaping as its biggest clean-out in 16 years, with four of the most popular Dockers in line to depart.

The potential departures of crowd favourites Matthew Pavlich, Hayden Ballantyne, Michael Barlow and Anthony Morabito in one hit will have an enormous affect on the club.

And Dockers legend and board member Peter Bell has labelled the environment at the WA side as ‘horrid’.

Bell said on Saturday he was not making excuses but that “things were horrid at Fremantle”.

Round 18

Today, Bell sought to clarify his comments saying he was not referring to the environment at the club but rather their results.

“I definitely used the term ‘horrid’, but that was in reference to win-loss record and where we’ve ended up this season with results compared to the expectation at the start of the year after finishing 2015 as minor premiers, to end up with three wins and that amount of losses and a horrible injury run,” Bell told Triple M in Melbourne on Sunday.

“I didn’t use the term horrid in reference to the environment or what the feeling is like down there.

“Having said that of course it’s been a challenging year.”

The Dockers could lose four of arguably their five most popular players, with Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe set to stay on next season despite calls for the Dockers to trade out their most valuable, but injury-troubled commodity this October.

Triple knee victim Morabito has not been told whether he will receive a new contract for next season, but the 24-year-old is understood to have been heartbroken at not being called up for his first match in more than two years against Adelaide today.

Morabito has played just three AFL games in the past six seasons, but was hopeful of being brought back after playing his best game of the season for Peel last weekend.

Hayden Ballantyne has been linked to West Coast. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: News Corp Australia

The Dockers are facing the prospect of long-time fan favourite Ballantyne copping boos from some of his own supporters today, after it was revealed he has requested a move away from the embattled club.

There were competing claims from different sources yesterday regarding Ballantyne’s motives.

One version is that the 29-year-old All-Australian wants out because he is genuinely unhappy being at the club, while another view is that the dynamic forward is bargaining for a contract extension at the Dockers.

Bell made his comments in his regular role on 6PR in response to claims Fremantle players were relieved to get dropped to Peel.

“I know it’s a brutal game and it’s a ruthless game, and things are horrid at Fremantle. I’m not making any excuses for that,” Bell said.

“But I couldn’t ever fathom a stage in my career where I would be relieved to be playing WAFL rather than playing AFL.”

Anthony Morabito hasn’t been able to break into the Dockers team. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: News Corp Australia

Fremantle’s disastrous collapse from minor premiers to a likely 16th-placed finish is set to come at a significant financial cost to the club and in turn the WA Football Commission.

The Dockers’ operating profit of $763,775 last season came on the back of a top-of-the-ladder finish, the staging of two home finals and a merchandise bonanza stemming from Fyfe’s historic Brownlow Medal triumph.

The club’s current situation could hardly be more contrary, with Fremantle tipped to finish with just three wins for the season — the second-lowest return in the Dockers’ 22-year history.

West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui said he would welcome the prospect of Ballantyne coming to the club.

“We’d love him here,” Naitanui said.

“It’d be good to get another small forward.

“If he wants to come across, he can come across. He’s a tenacious little player.”

Eagles coach Adam Simpson refused to weigh in on whether the club was interested in Ballantyne’s services.

“He plays for Fremantle, so I haven’t given it any thought,” Simpson said.

“My job is to coach our boys right now.

“I’m not going to comment on other players publicly in this environment.”