How Fremantle Dockers could get younger in 2027 season after loss to Brisbane in grand final

Fremantle already figured as one of the greener and least-experienced sides to have featured on the grand final stage in recent years — and the Dockers may only get younger in 2027 as they aim to bounce back from a heartbreaking finish to their season.

The club’s 23-player line-up for their seven-point loss to Brisbane in the season decider had an average age of 26 years and three months, to go with 114.5 games worth of AFL experience.

Of the sides to have featured on the final day of the season across the past decade, the Dockers were the sixth-least experienced and equal-seventh youngest — remarkably, figuring alongside West Coast’s 2018 premiership-winning outfit.

In the wake of their shattering loss to the Lions, vice-captain Andrew Brayshaw said they would draw inspiration from how their opponents had been beaten in their 2023 grand final clash with Collingwood before peeling off a run of three consecutive flags.

On average, Brisbane’s side which suffered a last-gasp loss to the Magpies was six months older and boasted just over 22 more games worth of experience than Fremantle’s outfit which took to the field on Saturday.

The Dockers are guaranteed to be without at least one experienced member of their grand final side next year in small forward Sam Switkowski, who has called time on his 131-game AFL career.

And although the severity of the Achilles injury suffered by their captain Alex Pearce during the season decider has not yet been confirmed, the worst-case scenario of a torn tendon would almost certainly sideline the 31-year-old for the entirety of their 2027 campaign.

Meanwhile, three of the six oldest members of Fremantle’s side which lined up against the Lions in 29-year-old utility Corey Wagner, 30-year-old key defender Oscar McDonald and 35-year-old ruck-forward Mason Cox all figure as fringe players.

Wagner was only recalled into the Dockers’ line-up for the semifinal and Cox was locked in a battle with Sean Darcy to serve as Luke Jackson’s back-up for much of the year, which he eventually won as his teammate battled fitness and form issues.

McDonald had played five games for the season when called upon to replace the managed Brennan Cox in round 20 and retained his spot through until the grand final.

And while the three-club journeyman’s importance may grow if Pearce’s injury proves severe, he could face pressure for his place from emerging defender Hugh Davies next year.

Davies was not called upon to play a senior game this season but the 22-year-old, who signed a three-year contract extension in July, was in stunning form for Peel Thunder throughout their WAFL premiership-winning campaign.

Small foward Chris Scerri, who is only 20 years old, was among Fremantle’s emergencies for the grand final, while 23-year-old Brandon Walker and 21-year-old Cooper Simpson will both be pushing to establish themselves in the Dockers’ defence next year.