Fremantle star Andrew Brayshaw has revealed he’s closing in on a new deal with the Dockers, declaring he’s “very happy” at the club as he enters the final year of his contract.
The Dockers vice-captain was set to be one of the hottest (restricted) free agents on the market in 2025, ahead of his current four-year extension expiring at the end of the season.
However, despite rival interest from his home state of Victoria, Brayshaw insisted a new deal with the Dockers was “coming along nicely”.
“I had a chat with my manager not too long ago and he’s in talks with the footy club, so hopefully it gets done soon,”
Brayshaw told 7News.
While Brayshaw admitted it “burns” to narrowly miss out on finals after being in the top eight for most of the season, he was confident the club would be a serious flag threat in 2025.
“To miss out left a sour taste in the mouth,” he said.
“When you add Bolton into the list and we’ve got a lot of young players who are really developing, I think we’ll be really good next year.
The 24-year-old is considered the final crucial signature Fremantle is yet to secure beyond next season, with most of their stars locked away on long-term deals.
Caleb Serong, Hayden Young, Luke Ryan (2027), Jordan Clark (2028), Jye Amiss, Luke Jackson, Shai Bolton (2029), Josh Treacy, Sean Darcy and Brennan Cox (2030) have all committed to the club.
It comes as Brayshaw trained the club’s star recruit for the first time on Wednesday, saying he was excited to play alongside the “talented” Bolton.
The dual premiership Tiger joined a handful of his new teammates for an off-season session in Melbourne, two weeks after his bombshell move from Richmond in one of the biggest deals of the AFL trade period.
Fremantle Dockers players Shai Bolton and Andrew Brayshaw training in Melbourne.
Fremantle Dockers players Shai Bolton and Andrew Brayshaw training in Melbourne. Credit: Unknown/7NEWS
The Dockers handed over picks 10,11 and 18 in exchange for pick 14, a future third-rounder and Bolton, who signed a five-year deal tying him to the club until the end of 2029.
Brayshaw said he was “keen to be playing with” the 25-year-old in purple next season.
“(He will bring) a bit of flair and hopefully, a lot of goals. To be able to kick as many as he has at Richmond, it’s going to be great,” Brayshaw told 7News.
“We’ve got a few really good key forwards that will be able to bring it to ground and he will be able to mop it up and add kick heaps of goals.
“It’ll be really exciting to see what he can do.”
Bolton is expected to help the Dockers climb the ladder again next year, as the club continues its pursuit of an elusive first premiership under coach Justin Longmuir.
Shai Bolton training in Melbourne.
