Master coach Kevin Sheedy says Fremantle need to “hurry up” if they are to win an AFL premiership any time soon, claiming the Dockers need to strike while their star veterans are still around.

Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich, ruckman Aaron Sandilands and defender Luke McPharlin have been vital cogs in the Dockers’ set-up for the past decade, but all three are nearing the end of their decorated careers.

Pavlich and McPharlin both turn 31 in December, while Sandilands will be 30 by the time next season rolls around.

Fremantle (8-7) will struggle to make the finals this year, let alone contest the premiership.

So 2013 and 2014 are shaping as their best chances to snare an elusive flag before Pavlich, McPharlin and Sandilands retire or start to lose their dominant touch.

Sheedy is well placed to assess what’s needed to go all the way after guiding the Bombers to four premierships in his 27 years at the helm.

The 64-year-old is now in charge of Greater Western Sydney, and has urged Fremantle to stay loyal to new coach Ross Lyon, who controversially replaced Mark Harvey at the end of last year.

Fremantle have reached the finals just three times since their inception in 1995, but Sheedy predicted there could be some good times around the corner.

“The Dockers have got some really exciting, young players coming through,” Sheedy said ahead on Sunday’s clash with Fremantle at Patersons Stadium.

“Looking at Fremantle, you would be saying ‘well look, you’d want to hurry up because Pavlich and Sandilands won’t be around forever’.

“I would say, as a club, they need to settle the coaching position now.

“They’ve had six coaches in 18 years and I stayed at one club for 27.

“I hope Ross is here for a while.

“It’s unfortunate with Mark Harvey the way that happened but, at the end of the day, footy’s such a callous, cruel game.

“Settling a club down is very, very important. Other clubs that haven’t done it haven’t had success – Melbourne and other clubs like that.”

GWS have made 10 changes for Sunday’s match, with Sheedy banking on the inclusions to re-invigorate the side after a month in which they’ve copped floggings of 78, 94, 162 and 119 points.

The match will pit former Docker Rhys Palmer against his old side, with the GWS recruit keen to make a good impression.

“I was there for four years and I made a lot of good friendships,” Palmer said of his time at Fremantle.

“I still speak to them regularly.

“Hopefully, I get the chance to catch up with a few of them after the game.”