FOR ZIPPY Fish, Sydney's season-defining trip west doubles as a glimpse at a possible future, with the young star returning home to face Fremantle as the Dockers pursue her signature.

The reigning Rising Star and All-Australian squad member will play her first AFLW game in Western Australia since her debut when the Swans face the Dockers in Perth on Sunday.

Sydney has already secured a finals berth, but enters the final round with its finishing position and the prospect of a home final still to be determined.

The trip also brings Fish back to the state she grew up in as she weighs a decision on where she will play next season.

Fish remains uncontracted beyond this season as her initial two-year draftee deal nears its end. As reported by AFL.com.au last month, her options have narrowed to three: remaining with Sydney, or moving to either Fremantle or Geelong.

The Dockers sit in the box seat should she choose to return home, with West Coast, North Melbourne, and a group of Victorian clubs already ruled out, adding another layer to Sunday's meeting.

For Fish, however, the lure of WA runs far deeper than football.

Having grown up in Newman, a remote mining town in the Pilbara region, she rose through the ranks at East Fremantle to become one of the country's most highly rated juniors, prompting Sydney to select her with pick No.5 in the 2024 Telstra AFLW Draft.

Fish grew up supporting the Dockers as one of four AFL clubs she followed and was aligned with Fremantle through their Next Generation Academy before landing at Sydney, adding another connection to the club now pursuing her signature.

Fish has previously spoken about how her Newman upbringing, alongside her identity as a proud Noongar, Wongi and Larrakia woman, shaped her sense of community.

Before being drafted, she graduated from high school in 2023 and spent a gap year working as a game development officer with the West Australian Football Commission, running school clinics and carnivals.

Now, as a decision on her future approaches, the lure of family, friends and home looms large.

Sydney coach Colin O'Riordan last week publicly acknowledged that "pull" and the homesickness Fish has experienced, while making clear the Swans' desire to retain her.

"We understand the pull to home is there for 'Zip', being so far away from family and friends," he said.

"But the one thing she's been really conscious of all year is that she just wants to play footy."

O'Riordan again addressed Fish's future on Wednesday, saying the Swans were determined to prevent the decision becoming a distraction ahead of Sunday's clash.

"She's a 20-year-old girl who's trying to make a decision soon, right? No bones about it, she's a fantastic player and someone we'd love to keep at this club," he said.

"I think the main thing, we spoke about it yesterday, is just concentrating on footy for now. Whatever happens at the end of the year will happen at the end of the year, and she's really keen to just play footy."

That approach mirrors Fish's own comments earlier this season, when she said her manager, Alex Saundry, was handling discussions in the background while she remained focused on playing.

Fish also highlighted the appeal of the Swans' attacking game style in their first season under O'Riordan, describing it as "so much fun to be a part of" as she weighs whether to remain in Sydney.

Sunday therefore brings Fish's past, present and possible future together: returning home with Sydney to face the club she grew up supporting and could call home in 2027.