Teams such as Geelong, Hawthorn, Sydney and more will likely be looking for key defensive depth in the upcoming trade period and Fremantle might be the team capable of offering that and making a trade.
It doesn’t look like it now given their run of injuries, but the Dockers are over-stocked when it comes to key defenders.
Luke Ryan is an All-Australian calibre defender, Brennan Cox has held his own this year, Jesse Hogan is being converted into a defender and their regulars in Joel Hamling, Griffin Logue and Alex Pearce are working their way back from injury.
They all can’t play in the same side and former St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt has urged the Dockers to cash in on one of them while their value is high.
“What about Alex Pearce? He’s (25) years of age, he’s a gun and I think he’s a really good player … but he has (had a lot of injuries). He’s played 13, eight, zero, 21, 11 and then zero games,” he told Fox Footy.
“Does he almost become superfluous to their needs and you get good value while you can?
“I really like him as a player, but they’ve got Brennan Cox, Joel Hamling, they’re talking about playing Jesse Hogan back, they’ve got Griffin Logue.
“Jake Lever was worth two first-round draft picks (for Melbourne), what would someone like Alex Pearce be worth? And are they brave enough to make a decision like that?”
A side like the Cats in particular will likely need a ready-made key defender to step in, with Harry Taylor and Lachie Henderson at the end of their careers.