Fremantle co-vice captain Caleb Serong addresses rumoured links between the Dockers and Demons star Kysaiah Pickett

Fremantle star Caleb Serong has addressed rumours that Demons star Kysaiah Pickett will be a Docker in 2025 as he lauds the hard work Freo has done to become a destination club.

Fremantle co-vice captain Caleb Serong. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Caleb Serong believes that Fremantle’s new-found destination club status is a product of the Dockers’ competitive culture.

It comes as the co-vice captain shut down rumours that Melbourne star Kysaiah Pickett had already decided to join the Dockers after the 2025 season.

After previously being criticised for a perceived issue with player retention, Fremantle has emerged as a popular destination for A-grade talent in recent years. The Dockers lured Luke Jackson and Jaeger O’Meara home in 2022 before doubling down in the most recent off-season, acquiring two-time Richmond premiership hero Shai Bolton.

This year looms as another busy one on the player movement front with both West Coast and Fremantle in the hunt for Sydney midfielder Chad Warner. It’s understood that if Warner decides to return home when his contract expires at the end of the season, he’ll take an open mind to his destination after initially leaning towards the Dockers.

Caleb Serong poses during the Indigenous All Stars Guernsey unveiling. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Asked about Fremantle’s emergence as a destination club, Serong said that it was a credit to the work the Dockers have done internally on their culture and values as a football club.

“It’s something that we’re really proud of to be a club and place that people want to come to but we don’t really see it from that point of view,” he said. ‘We’ve got a lot of guys that love coming to work and love what we’re building and if that extends to other clubs and other players see that as a place they want to come then that’s amazing.

“But it’s an environment we’ve built…one where people love coming to work and love competing and love getting better.”

Pickett was linked to a move to Fremantle during last year’s trade period after expressing homesickness in his exit interview but it didn’t eventuate. The small forward has also reportedly flirted with a move to South Australia in the past as well.

“It’s kind of weird,” Serong said when asked about a recent Pickett rumour. “The trade period finished just a couple of months ago.

Caleb Serong has shot down rumours of links with Demons star Kysaiah Pickett. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge. A lot can change in a month, let alone 10 months. He’s an incredible player but we’ll see how it goes.”

As for the prospect of playing in the same midfield as Chad Warner?

“I haven’t crossed paths with him,” Serong said. “He’s a very tough player to play against so if we can get him in purple, it would make it a lot easier for us.”

Fremantle’s first priority will be securing the signature of fellow co-vice captain Andrew Brayshaw who is set to hit free agency at the end of the season.

“He’s working through that,” Serong said. “It’s his decision to make with his family, himself and the people around him but hopefully he can follow (Hayden) Youngy’s suit and sign long-term.

“I know he loves being around the club and he’s as committed as anyone to bringing home the club’s first premiership.”

Originally published as Fremantle co-vice captain Caleb Serong addresses rumoured links between the Dockers and Demons star Kysaiah Pickett