Fremantle have finalised their AFL coaching appointments for 2009 after securing Barry Mitchell as an assistant coach.

Mitchell, who was sacked by Carlton at the end of 2007 after falling out with then Blues coach Denis Pagan, will be put in charge of the Dockers' midfield.

The 42-year-old, who played 221 AFL games with Sydney, Carlton and Collingwood, will work closely with former West Perth coach Todd Curley, who signed on with the Dockers earlier in the week.

Mitchell headed up Hawthorn's VFL affiliate team Box Hill in 2008 and said he was thrilled to join the Dockers.

"I'm looking forward to devoting all my energies to an AFL team and doing all I can at Fremantle to help further develop what is obviously going to be a young list," Mitchell said.

"I've been working with younger players for the past five or six years, so I'm really excited about working with the younger guys at Fremantle and, hopefully, starting to climb up the ladder."

Fremantle chief executive Steve Rosich said Mitchell was a key plank in the club's coaching staff.

"Barry is an experienced coach who has enhanced his coaching credentials by being part of a premiership winning club," Rosich said.

"He had a long and distinguished playing career as a midfielder and is ideally suited to the role of assistant coach at Fremantle."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP