MIDFIELDER Michael Barlow will meet with Fremantle to discuss his football future this week as he considers interest from "a handful" of rival clubs.

Barlow, 28, is out of contract but after seven seasons at Fremantle is one year shy of qualifying for free agency.

He said on 6PR on Thursday that he was considering all options "and really looking forward to playing AFL football next year, regardless.

"To be honest, priority one is to just keep playing AFL football.  

"I'm really confident that I'll keep playing AFL football.

"And Fremantle obviously haven't come to the table with a contract at the moment.

"So as I said, priority one is to keep plugging away in the AFL and I'm exploring all options."  

A senior regular when fit for his first six seasons with the Dockers, Barlow was dropped to the WAFL this year for two weeks after a quiet first seven rounds.

Despite a return to form between his recall in round 10 and the round 17 shoulder injury that ended his season – Barlow starred with 43 possessions and two goals against Port Adelaide and performed strong run-with jobs on Essendon's David Zaharakis and Collingwood's Steele Sidebottom – the Victorian's future at Fremantle remains clouded as the club looks to regenerate its list following its slide from 2015 minor premier to 16th this year.

Barlow's manager, Marty Pask, told SEN radio on Thursday his client would discuss with Fremantle what role he might have at the club beyond 2016.

"Obviously he's unsigned at this point at the season. He's going to be chatting with Fremantle this week in terms of what potentially [his future] may look like," Pask said.

"I think the maturity of the industry is potentially getting a little bit better now when guys are out of contract and [there is] potential for a move."

Pask said Barlow had "some interest" from "a handful" of clubs, a couple of them based in Victoria.

But he suggested Barlow's future might not be determined until the potential big-name moves of Dion Prestia, Jaeger O'Meara, Tom Mitchell and Tyrone Vickery were finalised.

"Those (big-name) cards sort of fall first and from there you've got another tier that sort of happen, those guys who are in that 28, 29 sort of window. [They] then start sort of moving through and you work out where they slot in next," Pask said.