Fremantle's trade strategy saw the Dockers move back in the draft order, signalling their intent to prioritise the addition of ready-made names over the best prospects from this year's crop of teenagers.
The Dockers remain in the first round of the draft order, however, and will look to make their second first-round selection in four years in 2025.
If they can strike close to the level of drafting they managed last year in landing Murphy Reid at Pick 17, the Dockers will be well off for the long haul.
Here we look at Fremantle's potential draft plans for 2025, assessing their list needs and the teenagers who might be on their radar.
Draft Hand
Picks: 20, 47, 69 (875 Points)
The Dockers might not be in for a busy draft as they balance both selections and list upgrades, placing a greater reliance on Pick 20.
That selection, which came from Brisbane as part of a deal that saw Brandon Starcevich head to West Coast and Fremantle move back seven spots in the queue while attaining the selection that secured them Judd McVee, is likely to come several further rungs back.
Pick 47 will come up in the order by the time the Dockers are on the clock for the second time; however, it could also be swallowed in a bid if a rival pulls the trigger on one of Fremantle's Next Generation Academy prospects.
List Needs
Attacking Spark: The Dockers have one of the more threatening forward groups in the competition. Their tall forward quartet of Josh Treacy, Jye Amiss, Patrick Voss and Luke Jackson worked well in 2025 and will likely continue, with the latter potentially in for more ruck time next year. Their ground-level options are also strong; however, the long-term picture has Shai Bolton and Murphy Reid rolling through midfield. There's a spot at Cockburn for a full-time small forward to join the likes of Sam Switkowski and Isaiah Dudley deep in attack, and this draft could be where the Dockers fill that void.
Outside Polish: The inside workhorses of Caleb Serong, Andrew Brayshaw and Hayden Young have been integral to Fremantle's finals chances over the past couple of years, with the Dockers also relying on some complementary pieces who assist in midfield. Where Fremantle could look next to bolster this group is some outside run that can add to the inside hustle of the Dockers' star midfield trio. A prospect who can be accountable on the wing as a two-way asset and be an outlet from clearance could be a missing piece in purple.
Intercept Anchor: Fremantle's back third has only grown stronger since the end of the season, having acquired the aforementioned McVee from Melbourne during the trade period to add to their crop of rebounding backmen. As for their talls, they don't bat as deep when it comes to their options for the future, and it could be time to look at who will take the reins once Alex Pearce and Luke Ryan move on. Josh Draper will take one spot to be that lockdown defender alongside Brennan Cox, so perhaps a pure interceptor like Ryan might be a good fit.
Potential Targets
Latrelle Sumner-Pickett: The over-age prospect has shot into first-round calculations two years after first being eligible for the draft. The Glenelg speedster, who is the cousin of Melbourne superstar Kysaiah Pickett, enjoyed a stellar debut for the Bays in August, booting four goals against Central District. Sumner-Pickett's zip and hunt for the ball have seen him viewed as arguably the second-best small forward in this year's draft, ranking only behind Eastern Ranges ace Lachy Dovaston.
Matt LeRay: The South Australian was one of the more consistent performers in his state's undefeated U18s National Championships run. A pure wingman, LeRay is a hard-working outside runner whose ability to lower his eyes and find a target inside 50 earned plenty of praise this year. He and partner-in-crime Harley Barker both find themselves in the mix as late first-round options for clubs to consider, with Fremantle potentially an ideal landing spot.
Toby Whan: The South Fremantle midfield is the standout prospect tied to the Dockers, having enjoyed a strong year with the Bulldogs' Colts outfit, winning the Jack Clarke Medal as the league's best and fairest. His U18s National Championships carnival didn't move the needle too much, but Whan has shown enough as a hard-working ball winner. As well as Whan, the Dockers also have links to Tom Phillips, Ryda Luke and Basil Hart to consider as club-tied options.
| N/A RANK |  | Toby Whan South Fremantle Midfielder HEIGHT: 183cm |
