FREMANTLE wingman Nathan O'Driscoll looks set to continue his career elsewhere in 2027 after informing the Dockers this week that he would explore his options in the upcoming 2026 Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period.

The club has shut down the prospect of ruckman Sean Darcy moving clubs, however, with executive general manager of football Joe Brierty declaring the contracted big man wants to stay and fight his way back into the Dockers' best 23 next year.

O'Driscoll is the only Fremantle player to have requested a trade in this week's exit meetings, having baulked at the club's three-year contract offer amid interest from the Western Bulldogs.

After placing contract talks on hold until the end of the season, the club has this week withdrawn that offer as the 24-year-old works through the prospect of a fresh start after 55 games with the Dockers.

"Our discussion with Nathan and his management at the moment is that he will look to explore his options through the trade period, and then we'll work through what that looks like," Brierty said on Thursday.

"We put some things on the table to Nathan ... and as we got to the back end of the year, we made a decision with him and his management that we would just hold off any further conversations.

"We revisited that this week and agreed with both parties that he would entertain [rival offers] and explore what that looks like.

"Obviously that deal is no longer there ... we've said that he can obviously look to have those discussions with those clubs, and we'll see how it plays out and go from there."

The Dockers have committed to young wingman Jaren Carr for 2027 but will first get through the player movement and draft periods before deciding if he is given a senior or rookie contract.

Darcy, meanwhile, is contracted through until the end of 2030 but fell out of favour in a frustrating 2026 season as Mason Cox was preferred as the second ruckman during the finals campaign.

The 28-year-old, who played only seven games this season amid injury and form issues, is not seeking a fresh start or more opportunities as a No.1 ruck elsewhere.

"Sean wants to stay and we want Sean to stay ... I think he's got a real fire in his belly to get back in the 23," Brierty said.

"He needs to get his body right and he needs that continuity, but we're a better team when Sean's up and going.

"Our discussions have been that he needs to work on a few aspects of his game, and I think he's clear on what that looks like.

"But Sean's not entertaining anything from anyone else. He's contracted with the club for a number of years to come, so I see him being in the purple."

Brierty said the Dockers did not expect to be too active during the Trade Period as they back the talent and youth on their list to drive improvement in 2027 and cover any positional needs.

The club has not entertained a move for former Collingwood small forward Bobby Hill or made an approach to contracted Sydney star Chad Warner after his season-ending ban at the Swans.

"Chad's a contracted player. I think that our position has been that when we feel as though a player that can add value to our club, we've always looked at having discussions with West Australians," Brierty said.

"We'll be open to having those discussions and entertaining them, but it needs to be the right fit and the right time for us. We'll always look at how we can improve our list."

On the coaching front, Fremantle has held initial conversations with triple premiership Richmond defender Nathan Broad about his coaching ambitions, but not his playing prospects.

The Dockers need to replace Peel Thunder WAFL coach Adam Read as well as development coach Todd Curley, while experienced assistant Jaymie Graham is a leading contender to win North Melbourne's senior vacancy.

Brierty said the club's existing group of development coaches, which includes former Dockers Tendai Mzungu and Chris Mayne and ruck coach Sam Naismith, have the ability to step into new roles.

Fremantle players left the club this week after working through the heartbreak of Saturday's Grand Final defeat, with a feeling of pride emerging after the team proved it belongs on the big stage.

Brierty said the Dockers were planning to compete for premierships for a long time and would learn and grow from their Grand Final experience.

"We're not a club that's planning for this to be one moment in our story. We're just getting started," he said.

"This is just the beginning of what we think is going to happen in the coming years and we want to contend for a sustained period.

"There'll be disappointment, but what I see is a hungry group of players that'll go away and use that to fuel them going into pre-season.

"There'll be lots talked about in getting back to grand finals, but now's not the time to even consider what that looks like.

"Now's the time to go away, recharge and prepare ourselves for... pre-season where we can get better.

"Part of that will be making changes to our footy program, bringing in new talent, and we'll get ready to go again."