AFL Supercoach expert Dylan Bolch analyses the Fremantle Dockers squad for the 2026 season, looking at locks, points of difference and cheapies.
It feels as though it’s a make or break season for Fremantle, who have put together one of the strongest lists in the competition ahead of the 2026 season.
After being bundled out by the Suns in a thrilling elimination final last year, coach Justin Longmuir has added dour defender Judd McVee from the Dees and former Pie Mason Cox to his squad this year.
Two fan favourites in Nat Fyfe and Michael Walters have called time on their careers, while fringe players Liam Reidy and Will Brodie were traded as they hunt greater senior opportunities.
Let’s take a look at the Dockers’ SuperCoach prospects for the upcoming season.
Predicted Round 1 starting team
FB: Luke Ryan, Alex Pearce, Heath Chapman
HB: Jordan Clark, Brennan Cox, Judd McVee
C: Neil Erasmus, Hayden Young, Jaeger O’Meara
HF: Murphy Reid, Luke Jackson, Shai Bolton
FF: Jye Amiss, Josh Treacy, Sam Switkowski
FOLL: Sean Darcy, Caleb Serong, Andrew Brayshaw
I/C: Patrick Voss, Michael Frederick, Matthew Johnson, Karl Worner, Corey Wagner
Analysis:Â The Dockers are a tough side to predict, with plenty of players jostling for a variety of places in the best 23. Luke Jackson is set to spend some more time as a midfielder this year after the addition of Mason Cox to an already stacked tall forwards group.
The wing spots in particular are up for grabs, with the likes of Nathan O’Driscoll and Jeremy Sharp among those pressing their cases to feature in the Dockers’ best side. Players such as Cooper Simpson, Brandon Walker, Isaiah Dudley and Bailey Banfield are also around the mark, while draftees Tobyn Murray and Adam Sweid will also push for senior selection this season.
Fixtures
Round 1: Geelong (A)
Round 2: Melbourne (H)
Round 3: Richmond (H)
Round 4: Adelaide (A)
Round 5: Collingwood (A)
Byes: Round 14
Verdict: It’s a real mixed bag for the Dockers early, with juicy matchups against Melbourne and Richmond but also some tricky ones against the Cats, Crows and Pies. It gets a little bit easier from there on, facing just one finalist (Hawthorn) from 2025, between rounds 6 and 11. The Dockers share a mid-season bye with Carlton, Collingwood and Hawthorn.
LOCK
Damaging midfielder Hayden Young ($389,000 MID) is currently in over 50 per cent of teams at the time of writing, and for good reason. Young had an injury-plagued 2025 campaign, but averaged over 92 in his three seasons prior to that, including 101.3 back in 2024.
He is a maximum impact player who can pierce opposition sides apart with his elite foot skills and is a key cog in Fremantle’s on-ball brigade. There are several mid-priced options in the midfield this year, but Young might be the best of the lot.
Ruck Luke Jackson ($611,200 RUC) is another strong pick, having scored 12 tons last year for an average of 113.
POINT OF DIFFERENCE
Fremantle’s dynamic midfield duo of Caleb Serong ($571,700 MID) and Andrew Brayshaw ($616,400 MID) have been trusty SuperCoach assets for a long time and this year should be no different. Will either be top 8 midfielders come season end, though?
Serong hurt owners last year who started him with an average of 105.7 points per game, ranked 22nd amongst midfielders, while Brayshaw averaged 113.9 points, ranked ninth.
Another player who has caught the eye is Jordan Clark ($568,000 DEF), who has been a pillar of consistency in recent times. The dashing defender had a decent share of kick-in duties last year and was regularly Fremantle’s route out of defence. Clark put up 15 SuperCoach centuries last year but despite that record, remains in just 10 per cent of teams right now.
CHEAPIES
There aren’t too many relevant cheapies at the Dockers right now, but keep an eye on Tobyn Murray ($113,500 FWD) who has impressed in his first pre-season at the club. Murray is a mature-aged forward who works hard all day and likes to hit the scoreboard.
Elsewhere, Cooper Simpson ($178,900 DEF) could be worth a look if he can cement a place in the best 23, but he’s currently dealing with a minor hip issue.
