FREMANTLE favourite Sam Switkowski is set to retire at the end of the season.

It is understood Switkowski, who will turn 30 in November, told his Dockers teammates of the surprise decision on Wednesday, having been weighing up his call throughout the year.

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Switkowski has been an important member of the minor premier this season, playing 22 of a possible 23 games in a valuable pressure forward role.

A free agent at season's end, Fremantle had been hoping to engage in contract talks with the Victorian across the year but had been told he was weighing up his playing future.

Clubs in Victoria had also approached Switkowski around his interest in joining as an unrestricted free agent, though his priority had been to remain at Fremantle if he was to play on.

"I am ready for that next chapter of my life and I really want to get back to Melbourne to reconnect with my family and friends," Switkowski said at a media conference on Wednesday.

"And I've got a baby boy coming any day now, and my wife and I just decided this was the right time for us to make that move for us as a family.

"I understand it's a shock for people that are hearing it for the first time, but I just feel really content with what I've done.

"I guess my priorities in life have just shifted now."

Switkowski considered joining a Melbourne-based club but the more he thought about it, the more he realised his heart wouldn't have been fully in it.

"I think it takes a lot to be an AFL footballer and I always have held myself to a high standard," Switkowski said.

"And I don't want to be a person that's just hanging onto a career for the sake of just a contract.

"I only wanted to commit to playing at a new club if I was all in and felt like I had a lot to give, and I just don't feel like that's where I'm at.

"It excites me more moving on to a new career or something different than trying to grind my way through just hanging on for a couple more years."

Switkowski has played 127 games for the Dockers since joining as a mature-aged recruit out of Box Hill's VFL program.

He was rested for the side's round 24 defeat to Carlton, the only game he's missed this year, but is set to return and play through the finals series, where he'll hope to help the ladder-leading Fremantle to a maiden premiership.

"It's an unusual situation when you have a player that has decided to retire while still playing some of his best football during his time at the club, but this is just a reflection of the calibre and character of the person that Sam is," Dockers footy boss Joe Brierty said.

"Not for one moment in his time at Fremantle has Sam not invested 100 percent of himself as a player, teammate and leader.

"Sam will be remembered as a player that got every ounce out of his football career, played his role for the team week in week out and always put the Club first.

"Now it’s time for Sam and Sav to prioritise their family and what comes next, knowing that they will forever be part of the Fremantle family. But before this, we know that Sam is committed to ending his career the right way as a key part of our playing group determined to give everything to the coming finals series."