FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon revealed on Wednesday that Essendon star Cale Hooker called him on Tuesday night to confirm that he was re-signing with the Bombers for five years.

The Dockers were one of a number of clubs pursuing Hooker's services as he was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.

Hooker is one of 12 current Bombers serving a 12-month WADA suspension in 2016.

The 27-year-old West Australian, who was originally recruited to the Bombers from East Fremantle, signed a five-year contract to remain at Essendon until the end of the 2021 season.

Lyon said Hooker had personally called him to inform him that he was remaining at the Bombers.

"To be truthful, he was respectful and rang last night and said he wanted to talk to me before he spoke to his mum," Lyon said on Wednesday.

"We've got a really strong relationship. And does it surprise me? No, because he's very loyal to his football club.

"He had a number of Melbourne clubs (interested), so I wish him all the best; he's a really good person.

"From our end, clearly our list management identified him, as did a number of other clubs. You didn't have to be a genius did you? Even we could work it out, or I could. So that chapter is shut and we've all moved on and it never was."

The Dockers have been extremely active in the free agency and trade market over the last few years in an effort to secure an experienced and talented key position player.

They also tried to land Greater Western Sydney forward Cam McCarthy during last year's trade period.

But despite McCarthy now living in Perth and training with South Fremantle at Fremantle Oval, Lyon said he had not had any contact with the Giants player since the trade period.

"I met with him once during the trade period and since then I haven't spoken to anyone (about him)," Lyon said.

"To be truthful, I drove in to get my laptop the other week and I saw him here with South Fremantle and I thought that's not a bad recruit for them, but then you read he's not allowed to play.

"He's a GWS player, being paid well by GWS. Clearly I'd like to respect his privacy, because for whatever reason he's not playing AFL football.

"I think they put on the table he's working through some issues that he needs to get on top of, so I don't speculate and indulge when I don't need to.

"But we understand he's in Perth and he's a talented player and we were involved last trade period, but as he sits now, I really want to respect the GWS football club and Cam and his family."

Lyon said he was not concerned with his club's inability to land a key position player via free agency or trade.

"The best way to get them is to draft them in and grow them, Alex Pearce, (Matt) Taberner," he said.

"I think going forward it's going to be easier access to the talent because the expansion teams have basically gobbled up all the talent for the last four or five years.

"When you're trying to add to your list, they're out there. The Jake Levers (Adelaide) and those guys are out there, defenders and forwards, so I don't see us as any different."

The Dockers did land midfielder Harley Bennell in a trade last year but he has been sidelined for the first half of the season with a calf problem. They have been successful in free agency in recruiting Danyle Pearce, but Colin Sylvia's recruitment was a failure.

The Dockers also secured former Bomber Scott Gumbleton via a trade but he did not play a game for Fremantle after injuries forced him into retirement.