Fremantle's fallout from the 2024 season would be one of disappointment, essentially throwing away a finals opportunity following a wretched final month of the year.
The Dockers were aggressive during the off-season, seeing Richmond star Shai Bolton as a must-have player on their list whilst also safeguarding their future by welcoming a host of young stars through the draft.
Justin Longmuir has arguably one of the most talented midfield groups in the competition, and their style of play allows the defence to assert itself onto the opposition.
However, a by-product of the mundane, and at times, tedious game plan, is the inability to score at will, which will no doubt be an area of focus during the summer months.
Ahead of the new season, we've assessed Fremantle's 2025 squad and selected a best 23-man side - breaking down their depth charts on all three lines of the field.
Our Best 23 for 2025 series will include players unavailable for the start of the season, only excluding players who are expected to miss most/all of the season through injury/suspension.
2. Midfielders
The injection of Hayden Young into the midfield has the Dockers' engine room rivalling the competition's best, boasting the likes of Andrew Brayshaw, Caleb Serong and either Luke Jackson or Sean Darcy alongside them.
Fremantle found a hidden gem in Jeremy Sharp as one possessor of the wing role, while Jaeger O'Meara, Nathan O'Driscoll and Aish have all been trialled through the position.
What also cannot be understated is the impact Shai Bolton will have on this mix, as well as veterans Nat Fyfe and Matthew Johnson.
Bolton will immediately add firepower to the centre whilst also having a presence up forward.
Fyfe's year will be watched closely given the two-time Brownlow medallist will likely play second fiddle to the youth that is roaring through the club.
Longmuir also tends to put small forwards through the midfield, so rivals should plan for Sam Switkowski and Michael Frederick to push up the ground.
