Fremantle Dockers begin talks to secure forward Sam Switkowski as Jaeger O’Meara faces uncertain future

Fremantle have begun preliminary talks around a contract for small forward Sam Switkowski, who qualifies as an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. The West Australian understands Switkowski, 29, is keen to remain at the Dockers where he has played 111 games in nine seasons and is a vital member of the squad on and off the field. It comes as veteran midfielder Jaeger O’Meara is set to have to wait until mid-season to learn if he will earn a new deal beyond 2026. Switkowski and O’Meara are the only members of the Dockers’ leadership group who are not locked in at the club beyond this season. Fremantle have five players who qualify as unrestricted free agents at the end of this season led by Switkowski as well as Bailey Banfield, Oscar McDonald, Sam Sturt and Corey Wagner. Switkowski has played in all six of the Dockers’ games to start the season after his pre-season was hindered by a third concussion in as many years which he sustained in an intra-club in Bunbury. Drafted with pick 73 in 2017 from the Box Hill Hawks, he last signed a contract in 2023 when he inked a two-year extension. While not a prolific goal kicker – with only two this season to date – Switkowski plays a vital role as a pressure forward in the Dockers’ star-studded attack. Switkowski’s role at Fremantle is so highly rated, that he finished eighth in the Doig Medal last year despite his modest numbers of averaging 13 disposals and three tackles as well as kicking 11 goals in 17 games. Meanwhile, O’Meara’s future beyond this season is up in the air as the Dockers prepare for an attack on the draft ahead of Tasmania’s introduction ahead of the 2027 national draft. O’Meara’s initial four-year contract he signed at Fremantle when he was traded from Hawthorn in 2022 expires at the end of this year. The former Hawk and Gold Coast Sun is the second-oldest player on the list at 32, behind only ruck recruit Mason Cox, 35. O’Meara was sent for facial surgery on Wednesday and is likely to miss up to a month after a training mishap in the lead up to the western derby. The midfielder has played 60 games in more than three seasons at the Dockers after battling injuries for most of his career. Several other Dockers are also without deals beyond this year including midfielders Matt Johnson and Nathan O’Driscoll as well as youngsters Charlie Nicholls, Chris Scerri, Hugh Davies, Jaren Carr, Leon Kickett, Ollie Murphy, Toby Whan and Ryda Luke. O’Driscoll was pursued by Port Adelaide in late 2024 before he signed a two-year extension to stay at the Dockers. Johnson – who has cemented himself in the best 23 to start the year – is almost certain to stay with talks around a deal set to ramp up in the coming weeks. As revealed by The West Australian, in-form rookie forward Isaiah Dudley was closing in on hitting a games trigger to earn a contract for 2027.