Anthony, McPhee depart Fremantle

Jack Anthony has been sacked. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: HWT Image Library

FREMANTLE has sacked maligned forward Jack Anthony with a year to run on his contract.

And defender Adam McPhee has announced his immediate retirement, citing family reasons for his shock decision to return to Melbourne.

Anthony was told yesterday that his services at the Dockers were no longer required after managing just eight games in two seasons since crossing from Collingwood in late 2010.

The 24-year-old was advised by Fremantle last week to consider his football future and came to an arrangement yesterday that, according to the Dockers, was in the "best interests" of both the player and club.

"Jack has always been very professional in his approach to training and playing during his two years at the club and we wish him all the best in the future," Fremantle football operations general manager Chris Bond said.

McPhee's decision to return to his native Victoria with wife Bree and their two young children is believed to have stunned the Dockers, who saw the veteran defender as a key part of their plans for next season.

The 30-year-old played 81 games in two stints with Fremantle as well as 142 games with Essendon, where he won a best and fairest award in 2004.

Like Anthony, McPhee struggled in his first two seasons since crossing from the Bombers, but found his feet last season as a third tall defender under new coach Ross Lyon.

McPhee, who plans to take up a position with his father-in-law's defence and security marketing company, said he was putting his family first over one last hurrah on the big stage.

"Bree and I and our two boys are really close to our families in Melbourne and, while I don't regret any moment of my time at Freo, we have found it difficult at times being apart from the rest of the family," McPhee said in a statement.

"I knew the difficulties they experienced when I travelled and was frequently away for two or three days at a time. I knew, in the background, that wasn't exactly what Bree and I wanted.

"I felt I had to make the decision to retire and return home, regardless of whether I was fit enough to play one or two more seasons of football or not."

The Dockers last week delisted Nick Lower, Jesse Crichton and Dylan Roberton, but have allowed Lower and Crichton to continue to train at the port in a bid to win back a spot on the club's list via next month's rookie draft.

Roberton, who unsuccessfully sought a trade back to Victoria last month, has been granted permission to train with St Kilda.

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