Ross Lyon has reason to be excited by the talent on Freo’s list.

While the Freo senior coach believes it would be difficult for veterans Matthew Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands and Luke McPharlin to take their football to even higher levels, he said the rest of the list was relatively young and had plenty of room to improve.

“We’re looking for growth from our middle tier and emerging players,” Lyon said.

“Max Duffy is one who really started to understand AFL footy and prepared in an elite manner. Barring injury he would have played some more football.

“Matt Taberner is another one we expect to grow. Hayden Crozier’s finish to the year was really strong - he went a fair way to cementing himself.”

Lyon said a fully fit and available Michael Walters would be a tantalising prospect in 2015 and that players such as Lachie Neale, Nick Suban, Zac Clarke and Tom Sheridan could also get better.

But the Freo coach warned that simply turning up in 2015 did not guarantee progress.

“This is predicated on all those guys being dedicated and doing all the work, as they have done in the past,” Lyon said.

“Until we see it again and we see them fit and available, it’s really hard to make any predictions as I sit here in October.”

Lyon said the WAFL alignment with Peel Thunder had also helped fast track the development of the club’s players.

“There were games when we had 14 or 15 Fremantle Dockers on the whole representing Peel,” he said.

“That was a nice feeling for them, rather than going out and playing against their teammates, they developed some good camaraderie, mateship and teamsmanship.

“Certainly we were able to get Peel to play more so in the manner that we do in the AFL – it’s not identical and we can’t expect it to be.”

Lyon credited the efforts of Thunder coach Cam Shepherd and Freo’s development coaches, led by Simon Lloyd. He said there had been growth for both Fremantle and Peel in the partnership.

”There was a real harmony between us, there was certainly no friction (or) no fracturing,” Lyon said.

“Their young kids got to play, we were really competitive in a lot of games and we could have easily won another three or four games.

“I think, for Peel it’s been great, for the Dockers it’s been great, and it has enabled us to develop our kids quite well.”