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Fremantle is a team that gets little talk in the media particularly over on the east coast of Australia. Perhaps this needs to change coming into season 2025 as the Dockers have been building towards a list worthy of going deep into September.
The off-season for Fremantle was beneficial to top up its talent stocks, with Shai Bolton making the move from Tigerland in exchange for two first-round picks. Fremantle used its sole remaining first-round pick to draft Murphy Reid, a ball-hungry midfielder who can contribute with goals when required.
Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw of the Dockers celebrate. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Talent isn’t an issue for Fremantle with Brayshaw (2022), Serong (2023), Ryan (2023) and Bolton (2022 for Richmond) having donned All Australian blazers in the past. Fremantle’s average age is 24.4 and have played 68 games across their careers. Both statistics indicate the time to step up is rapidly arriving.
2024 could’ve been that breakout year but a poor end to the season once again dashed their hopes and quickly quietened ‘Flagmantle’ chants for another season, losing their last four games to slide out of a close race for the top eight.
Fremantle’s ruckman Sean Darcy developed left knee issues, missing the last three games of the 2024 season and has been sent to Qatar for both recovery and prevention measures to ensure he can return to being a premier big man in the league. Luke Jackson is his ruck partner and the envy of most of the league. Ruckmen are hard to come by and a big strength of the Dockers is their ability to rotate in the middle.
Jackson has improved his output in front of goals since heading west but the Dockers faithful will want to see potentially a 30-goal season if Darcy is to continue being the focus point as a ruckman. Rumour has it Kysaiah Pickett, Jackson’s old Melbourne teammate may also head west in 2025, adding to the potent small forward stocks already possessed by the club.
Fremantle has the balance of veterans like Nat Fyfe and Michael Walters as an off-field leader, although both are struggling to be ready for the season with knee complications. But having players such as Serong, Brayshaw and Young who are yet to enter their prime seasons, means Fremantle should expect to be fighting for the top four. No more fade-outs.
The bar should be that fourth to sixth range. The ultimate goal should be contending for a flag. Playing in a prelim, for example, will vindicate both the playing group and club that they’re heading in the right direction but failure to capitalise on the talent possessed may start drawing questions.
Given their collective age, time is a luxury for Fremantle, but waiting for ‘next year’ can’t become a long-term trend.
This year I believe in Fremantle and that the experience is now great enough for this list to take the next step.
Uniquely, West Coast struggling in recent seasons mark this as a significant opportunity for the Dockers to become the prominent force out west. 2025 is a chance to take it right to the big guns in the AFL.
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