Fremantle great and ex-captain Matthew Pavlich has backed Dockers defender Alex Pearce to succeed outgoing skipper Nat Fyfe as captain of the club, believing midfield duo Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong are "too young" to take on the role.
Fyfe announced his decision to step down as captain of the Dockers this week after six seasons with the proverbial armband, opening the door for one of his trusted assistants to follow in his footsteps.
After David Mundy's retirement at the end of last season, the other three of Justin Longmuir's leadership group members will have the chance to present their case, with a player vote to take place in the coming days and Fremantle's ninth captain to be unveiled sometime this month.
For Pavlich, the club's longest-servicing skipper, the timing isn't right for either Brayshaw or Serong to lead the rising Dockers from 2023, with the six-time best and fairest winner backing Pearce as the man for the job.
After stepping into the role in Fyfe's absence and finding consistency at senior level after years of injury and anguish, Pearce is the veteran option for his teammates to consider.
While Fremantle's youthful cohort could consider their two breakout onballers, Pavlich has encouraged Longmuir's men to elect the much-loved Pearce.
"I think they've got a couple of young players in Andy Brayshaw at 23 (years old) and Caleb Serong at 21 who could potentially take up the role," Pavlich told 9 Newsย on Tuesday evening.
"I think they're still just a little bit too young. They've got a young player group, they may end up voting that way.
"But in my opinion, Alex Pearce at 27 is the right person to take the Dockers forward.
"His body is right after years of injury and struggle, but he is loved by the playing group and has a lot of support, broadly, in that playing group.
"I think it's the right time for him to take (the) reins."
Having not selected co-captains since Shaun McManus and Adrian Fletcher shared the captaincy in the earliest years of this century, the Dockers are seen likely to extend their run with a sole skipper.
Fyfe's successor is expected to help lead the club into a promising era, with the club signifying their intentions for a maiden premiership in the next three seasons.
Pearce will surpass the 30-year barrier come the end of the 2025 season, while Brayshaw's current contract runs until the same mark.
Serong recently recommitted to the club until the end of 2027, and firms as an outside chance to take on the captaincy this year with both Pearce and Brayshaw see the leading two options.
Fyfe was 25 years old when elected as captain of the club, the youngest of the club's past three leaders in Mundy, Pavlich and Peter Bell.
Brayshaw would become Fremantle's youngest should he be selected at 23 years of age, overtaking McManus (24).
