The fallout from Fremantle's early finals exit has begun, with the Dockers officially announcing that their high-performance manager, Phil Merriman, will depart the club to pursue a new professional opportunity.
Merriman has been involved with the Dockers in the role since 2020 and was a pivotal element in ensuring their emerging crop of young talent were at their physical peaks for the enduring AFL season. He was formerly a physical performance coach at Hawthorn between 2011 and 2017 and led the Demons' strength and conditioning program from 2019 to 2020.
“I've appreciated the opportunity to work with Fremantle and I'm proud of the progress we've made,” Merriman said in the club's statement.
“After the achievements of recent years, I feel it's the right time to take on a new challenge and continue my growth. I leave with great respect for the club and its people."
Fremantle EGM Football Joe Brierty said the Dockers will immediately begin the search for a new high-performance manager as the club looks to build off its phenomenal 16-win season, Fremantle's best record since 2015.
"We thank Phil for his contribution to Fremantle over the past five seasons," Brierty said.
"As we continue to evolve our men's football program, this decision provides us with an opportunity to find new leadership to take our high-performance strategy forward."
