Fremantle have made huge strides in the past two seasons, particularly in 2022, when they showed that their exciting list stacks up against the best.
While it's a squad with massive upside, there remains a strong blend of experience to lead the way.
Coach Justin Longmuir has proven to be an astute football mind and has so far, along with his assistants, done an impressive job with developing the array of young talent at their disposal while ensuring that not too much critical experience was jettisoned.
The Dockers started season 2022 like a house on fire, winning ten of their first thirteen games. They announced themselves as the real deal in a comprehensive manner, beating reigning premiers Melbourne in May, before backing it up a week later when knocking off the Lions.
While they loom as the real deal, they were bundled out of the finals by a red-hot Collingwood in week two. Having had a taste of September, it's hard to see them regressing this season given the amount of quality at Cockburn.
Andrew Brayshaw established himself as one of the competition's best midfielders while Caleb Serong continues to impress and is inching closer to becoming a star in his own right. Down back, Hayden Young has become one of the best young defenders in the AFL.
Having lost Griffin Logue, Blake Acres and Rory Lobb, there are openings in the senior team lineup. Similarly, the loss of depth players like Lloyd Meek and Darcy Tucker will create openings for some of their highly-touted youngsters to press their claims.
The trade for Luke Jackson will make up for Lobb's absence if he can develop his forward craft. It's also hoped the recent acquisitions of Jaeger O'Meara and Josh Corbett will prove to be shrewd moves from a club that has rebuilt their squad to little fanfare but on closer inspection, looks efficient and methodical.
Away from the trade table, Fremantle have nailed their top picks at the draft, with Serong (pick 8) and Brayshaw (pick 2) having already paid dividends. Serong by winning the Rising Star award and Brayshaw by finishing 4th in the Brownlow in 2022 with 25 votes and looming as the next club captain.
Likewise the selections of Henry (pick 9) and Young (pick 7), with Henry likely to spend time on the wing this season and Young reportedly taking his game to another level this pre-season.
With an even younger crop from the 2021 draft said to be impressing internally in the forms of Jye Amiss, Neil Erasmus and Matthew Johnson, the Dockers look well-stocked for a sustained assault on the top four.
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So the question then becomes; Where can they improve? There are still areas for concern that could be exposed by the likes of Geelong, particularly in the forward line, while they would not refuse midfield reinforcements given Nat Fyfe is likely to spend a lot more time inside forward 50.
Here are four options we think the Dockers could use to turn themselves into genuine premiership contenders. Bear in mind that these are not just out-of-contract players but rather candidates with traits that may be on the Fremantle wish list.
3. Kysaiah Pickett
One of the competition's most dangerous small forwards, Kysaiah Pickett would slot perfectly into the Dockers' forward line, alongside his old teammate Luke Jackson. While they have handy options in the form of Lachie Schultz and Michael Walters, a player of Pickett's calibre would be transformative.
An elite small forward with premiership experience, Pickett is the ideal modern-day pressure forward pocket and could easily develop into a pinch-hitter in the midfield given his speed, power, tackling and football IQ.
In season 2022 he kicked 41 goals, averaging 1.8 goals and 1.8 tackles per game, finding himself in the top 10 in the league for total tackles inside 50.
While the Dockers have options in this area, Pickett presents as an immediate upgrade who could potentially make them a 2-3 goal better side. His presence would add a layer of pressure in the Fremantle forward line, the kind that often results in turnovers and goals.
