Breakout Docker Blake Acres may not be running around in Fremantle colours next season.
Acres, who moved west in 2020 after six seasons and 75 games with St Kilda, has enjoyed an impressive season with Fremantle thus far in 2022, only hampered by a hamstring injury suffered in Round 13 that has since sidelined the 26-year-old.
A mainstay of Fremantle's starting 22 after an up and down few seasons at the Saints, Acres' management is now reportedly having a "look around" for a better deal for the out-of-contract Docker.
“I see that as a strong respect for Blake Acres. He hasn’t played since Round 13 (and he’s straight back into the side),” journalist Kim Hagdorn said on SEN WA’s Drive.
“I started to wonder, I’ve heard his name mentioned as being on the market.
“His management is touting Blake Acres around and I sort of thought to myself waiting to see the teams today, let’s put his name down as one to watch.
“If Acres doesn’t come in straight away, he’s not automatically regarded as a starting winger and I think the season he was having before his injury, he definitely was.
“He hasn’t gone back through the WAFL. I think it’s an endorsement that he is a bit more highly regarded than perhaps the one-year deal he has been offered and the not-so-good money as he has been on.
“He’s keen for a better deal and that’s why his management is having a look around. This is an endorsement perhaps that he’s more longer term regarded for Fremantle than perhaps they initially thought.”
The 26-year-old's two-year contract extension is set to expire at the cessation of the 2022 season.
Acres is set to play his first game since Round 13 on Saturday night against the Swans, with Heath Chapman also joining him on the list of inclusions in place of Ethan Hughes and Nathan Wilson.
