West Coast and Fremantle could have their own stand-alone West Australian Football League teams as early as next season in a bid to gain better control of their AFL players.

As it stands, Eagles and Dockers players are spread over the nine WAFL clubs, leaving them in the hands of a different coaching set-up when they are not chosen for AFL selection.

Both West Coast and Fremantle are desperate to gain a dedicated second-tier side to better manage players on the injury comeback, experiment with positions and have greater hands-on contact during the week and on match day.

West Coast and Fremantle will submit a joint proposal to the West Australian Football Commission later this month in the hope their bid for stand-alone WAFL sides will be approved in time for next season.

"It could be active in 2012," West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett said at the Eagles' season launch on Wednesday.

"It wouldn't take long to implement with all the work that we've been doing.

"It's something that we've had to do as a joint venture with Fremantle.

"Both clubs, and particularly football departments, are keen to have players under their control at all times.

"When you're drafting a young player, particularly from a Melbourne club, it doesn't make a lot of sense to have him try and adjust to two football clubs, several coaches (and) lots of different people ... it's a hindrance to his development.

"It's something that we've had to look at.

"We got a letter from the football commission back in November, which suggested we should put a formal proposal in rather than continually talk about it.

"We're in the process of doing that (and hope to complete it) by the end of March.

"However, we know there's a lot of water to go under the bridge before then.

"We've got to convince the WAFL competition and the clubs that it's going to be good for not only their competition - and uphold the integrity of their competition - but it's also going to be good for WA football."

For the stand-alone teams to get the tick of approval, at least five of the nine WAFL clubs need to agree to the concept.

Just this week, AFL club Melbourne were left fuming when their VFL affiliate Casey Scorpions recruited sacked Brisbane forward Brendan Fevola.

Melbourne believed Fevola's recruitment could hinder the development of an up-and-coming Demons player.

Meanwhile, West Coast unveiled dual premiership player Michael Brennan as their No.1 ticketholder for the upcoming season.

The former Eagles vice-captain is the father of recent recruit Jacob Brennan, who was snared under the father-son rule last year.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said it was up to the individual clubs to work out whether they had the money to fund their own second-tier side.

"It's not a huge investment for clubs to go stand alone, it's about $250,000," Demetriou said.

"It's entirely up to the clubs."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP