THE development of Fremantle’s young midfield core is a big reason why the Dockers must resist trading away Lachie Neale.

That’s the view of The West Australian’s Mark Duffield and The Sunday Times’ Glen Quartermain on the latest edition of the Duff and Quarters podcast, where the pair discussed Freo’s position entering a defining off-season.

Neale’s name has been thrown up in trade talks, with Brisbane reportedly interested in securing the star midfielder’s services.

But with Andy Brayshaw and Adam Cerra on the rise at the port club, Neale and skipper Nat Fyfe could form part of a dominant midfield in coming years at Fremantle.

“This is why it would be absolutely non-sensical for them to trade Lachie Neale out at this point,” Duffield said.

“Assuming Cerra and Brayshaw do (develop) next year and they play on into the following year, then that is the year when they will have serious impact on games.

“And that is the year when people like Neale, and Fyfe and Stephen Hill and Michael Walters, can lead Freo back into a finals series.”

The outlook isn’t quite as strong for maligned pair Harley Bennell and Cam McCarthy, however.

“I reckon there’s a chance that neither Bennell or McCarthy will be at the club for 2020,” Duffield said.

“To me, there’s a bit of an attitude adjustment required at Fremantle. Maybe this is as much the supporters as the club hierarchy.

“When McCarthy and Bennell arrived, they were seen as saviours. They have to park that idea now. Whatever they get out Bennell and McCarthy is a bonus now.”