West Coast forward Josh Kennedy was reportedly offered a coaching role by arch-rivals Fremantle for the 2022 season.
Although the bearded Eagle turned down the Dockers' initial advances for a chance to continue plying his trade within Adam Simpson's forward line, the purple-clad side is set to launch another bid to lure the dual Coleman Medallist across town.
According to Perth Now'sย Braden Quartermaine, Fremantle are likely to table another offer to the 34-year-old when his impending one-year deal at Mineral Resources Park expires at the cessation of 2022.
Fremantle's advance is not an isolated move, as Quartermaine held the belief that both Gold Coast and Collingwood had also sounded out the 278-gamer for similar roles within their programs.
As he holds a professional relationship with Kennedy borne from their time spent together at West Coast, current Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir explained that he had approached the premiership player about mentoring the Dockers' offensive stocks.
โI put out the feelers about maybe an off-field role earlier in the off-season,โ Longmuir said.
โAnd he made it really clear that he wanted to play on again and that him and West Coast would come to probably a one-year deal."
The former Fremantle forward confirmed Quartermaine's contention by unequivocally stating that Kennedy was still being sought by the Cockburn-based side.
โOnce heโs finished his playing career Iโll ask him again and see if he wants to come over, because Iโve seen how he can be with the younger players and heโs great at imparting his experiences and knowledge onto younger players," Longmuir continued.
โSo I think heโs someone who could help us down the track, but that will have to wait at least another year or two.โ
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With a career average of 2.65 goals across his 20 meetings with the Dockers, Kennedy has long proven a nemesis for the younger of the two sides in the west.
And given Freo's limp offensive output of just 219 goals in 2021 - the third least in the competition - the Eagles' seven-time leading goalscorer would offer their underperforming forward line some much-needed expertise.
Speaking prior to this year's grand final, Dockers skipper Nat Fyfe signaled that the premiership-less side would be targeting local key forwards at November's national draft.
Names such as Jye Amiss, Jack Williams, and Jacob Van Rooyen are almost certain to be in the club's sights, and as the Dockers hold a healthy draft hand (picks 6, 8, 19, 61, 69, and 84), they should have no trouble acquiring their preferred choice for the future.
As season 2022 is likely to be Kennedy's 17th and last at AFL level, the prospect of moulding fledgling talent within his home state may well be an offer too good to refuse.
