The severity of Fremantle captain Alex Pearce's Achilles injury he sustained in last week's heartbreaking Grand Final loss to Brisbane could open the door for the club to pursue Richmond premiership defender Nathan Broad.
The Dockers have sent the skipper in for scans, with hopes of only a partial tear, which could still take up to three months to recover. A full rupture could wipe out Pearce for the majority of 2027.
Broad returned to Western Australia after a successful career at the Tigers, where he played 191 games and secured three flags in four years.
The utility has been linked with West Coast in a potential coaching-playing role, as well as the relationships between Eagles coach Andrew McQualter, Jack Graham, Liam Baker and Tylar Young also existing at the club.
But the uncertainty around Pearce's next 12 months could result in Broad continuing his career at the Dockers in a bid to deliver a maiden premiership, according to a report on AFL Trade Radio.
The utility has links to Fremantle, with former teammate Shai Bolton quickly becoming one of the club's best players, including winning the Norm Smith Medal in a losing side.
Justin Longmuir would also be looking for defensive depth as the injury-prone Brennan Cox and journeyman Oscar McDonald weren't able to hold up in the clutch time of the 2026 season.
Cox succumbed to a calf injury, and was available for selection on grand final day, but was overlooked as Longmuir favoured McDonald.
The three-club defender struggled to contain Brisbane's Logan Morris once Pearce went down with the Achilles injury. Morris slotted three final-quarter goals, including taking a contested one-on-one mark inside 50 to give the Lions the lead with more than a minute to go.
Josh Draper and Hugh Davies loom as the next generation to take over from Pearce, McDonald and Cox, but an experienced and durable campaigner like Broad, may also be a play the Dockers need to take that next step.
The Dockers have had large amounts of success via off-Broadway signings like Isaiah Dudley, Chris Scerri, Mason Cox and McDonald.
