Relations between Fremantle and Melbourne are fast deteriorating after Dockers coach Mark Harvey accused the Demons of launching an "ambush" in their attempt to lure out-of-contract AFL ruckman Robert Warnock east.
Reports over the weekend said Warnock visited Demon headquarters last Thursday after accepting an invitation from former Dockers coach and now Melbourne football operations manager Chris Connolly.
But when Warnock arrived Connolly, Melbourne coach Dean Bailey and a group of players clad in suits were there to greet him, armed with a powerpoint presentation in their bid to entice the 206cm ruckman to the club.
Fremantle have been left seething over the bold approach and Harvey, who took the reins as Dockers coach last year after Connolly fell on his sword, made no attempt to hide his distaste at his predecessor's brazen advance.
"I thought it was an interesting tactic," Harvey told 6PR.
"I don't think he (Warnock) has been affected by what appears to be an ambush."
The in-demand Warnock, whose brother plays at Melbourne, could command about $1 million over the next three years on the open market, with a number of Victorian clubs expected to bid for his services.
The Demons, who are almost certain to finish last this year, could snare Warnock without trading for him via the pre-season draft.
Fremantle chief executive Steve Rosich is expected to sit down with Warnock and his manager Colin Young over the coming weeks to table a new deal.
Warnock, who underwent season-ending shoulder surgery after round 17, managed just nine games this year, spending most of the first-half of the season battling for form in the WAFL.
But Harvey said the chance for Warnock to team up with Aaron Sandilands to form the most potent ruck combination in the league should count in Fremantle's favour when Warnock weighs up his future.
"Robbie's a required player and in the end that will be his decision about what he wants to do," Harvey said.
"I'd love him to stay, I think he's got some good scope and I'd love to work with him over the next couple of years.
"He probably understands he's still evolving as a player and he's probably going to play with a guy (Sandilands) that hopefully asserts himself into a dominant ruckman for a period of time.
"And Robbie can play along with that for many years to come and that's the striking thing that he should be looking forward to at this stage."
Fremantle forward Adam Campbell urged Warnock to stay committed to the Dockers.
"Definitely we hope he stays at Fremantle," Campbell said.
"It will be great if he does but at the end of the day it's up to him and we'll just see what happens.
"He's very important. he's a great player to have around the club, a great person and a great football player."
Warnock has notched 21 games for the Dockers since being taken with pick No.42 in the 2005 national draft.
