Fremantle are said to be growing confident that star Andrew Brayshaw will recommit to the club on a long-term deal despite reported interest from his home state of Victoria.
Brayshaw is eligible for free agency this year and looms as the main retention target for the Dockers in 2025 after a strong period of re-signings in recent seasons.
The WA club managed to secure the services of midfielder Hayden Young until the end of 2033 in December, while Josh Treacy (2030), Jye Amiss (2029), Sean Darcy (2030), Luke Jackson (2029) and Brennan Cox (2030) are also penned to long-term contracts.
Brayshaw's partner-in-crime Caleb Serong is contracted to the club until the end of 2027 after inking a four-year extension back in 2022.
With Brayshaw's own four-year deal coming to an end, speculation has begun to surround the 2022 Leigh Matthews Trophy winner's future.
Cashed-up Victorian clubs St Kilda and North Melbourne are tipped to make a play for the 25-year-old, however their potential plans to lure Brayshaw east could fall short as Brayshaw's chances of re-signing with the Dockers grow stronger.
According to 7 News' Ryan Daniels, Brayshaw is expected to sign a deal in the vicinity of a six-year extension.
"They've been getting everybody signed up... Hayden Young, Josh Treacy, Luke Jackson, Caleb Serong. Andy Brayshaw is the one everyone has been [asking about]," Daniels told Triple M's Xav and Katie.
"He's got Victorian links, St Kilda are apparently into him, North Melbourne's apparently into him, everybody is into Andy Brayshaw.
"The confidence is sky high that he stays at the Fremantle Dockers and the deal would be around the six-year mark. This guy could be the future captain.
"They've been working on this for quite a while. There's a lot of Is to dot and Ts to cross, but I'm hearing it'll be done. It won't be an issue."
A deal of that length would take Brayshaw through to the end of 2031, which would be his 14th year in purple.
The one-time All-Australian and Doig Medal winner has played 146 games for Fremantle in his seven seasons since being drafted second overall back in 2017.
The agile onballer enjoyed a stellar second half to his 2024 campaign, polling 17 Brownlow votes in his final 10 games of the season to end with 22 votes - six less than Serong - and an 11th-place finish.
Brayshaw and the Dockers will face the Indigenous All Stars and Melbourne as part of their pre-season preparations prior to a Round 1 opener against Geelong at Kardinia Park on Saturday, March 15.