Josh Treacy is the latest Freo Docker to commit to the Club’s future, signing a three-year deal out until the 2026 season.
In his third season but still only 20 years of age, Treacy has endured the uncertainty that comes with being a rookie selection on the road to gaining security at AFL level.
Hailing from Cohuna in country Victoria, Treacy showed in 2021 that a player’s draft position was irrelevant once on an AFL list, making his debut in round four and playing 15 games.
He battled injury and a serious illness in 2022, playing just four games.
After his omission following round one this season, Treacy adapted a new mindset and rediscovered his love for the game at Peel. He has since broken back into Fremantle’s best 22 and played eight consecutive games.
He credited his 2022 season, which was interrupted by glandular fever and an ankle injury, for giving him the perspective he needs to succeed in the AFL.
“I'm extremely grateful and excited at the same time for the opportunity and the faith the Club have shown to me,” Treacy said.
“I've had a bit of an up and down three years, but I'm certainly on the way up and hopefully I can continue to build for another three years.
“It's been a bit of a challenge but I think for the better. Without having gone through those issues, I don't know if I'd be in the situation I am right now.”
Treacy has kicked eight goals from nine games this season, and brings significant pressure for a tall forward. In 2021, he led all Fremantle players for tackles inside 50 despite playing just 15 games.
He is part of a young but talented trio of tall forwards at Fremantle alongside 21-year-old Luke Jackson and 19-year-old Jye Amiss, who recently signed an extension through to the 2029 season.
The trio now have even more time to build their connection.
“I think it's slowly starting to click and hopefully it's something that grows over the next three years,” Treacy said.
“I’m extremely excited to see what the potential is.
“We're all different players as well. For me, I’m a bit more of a physical player, although I’m not saying that the others aren't. We've all got different weapons and I think we bounce off each other really well.
“We feel like we're growing every week as a collective.”
Head of Player Personnel David Walls said Treacy and the Club were eager to have the key forward locked in.
“Josh is loving life at Fremantle, and we were happy to see him commit for the three years,” Walls said.
“Josh can see a long-term future for himself at Fremantle and he was keen to commit and just wanted to repay the Club.
“He’s loving his time in West Australia, loving his time with his teammates and coaches and it was relatively straightforward to get the contract done.”
Walls said Treacy, Jackson and Amiss have shown they can be a dangerous trio, highlighting Fremantle’s win against Sydney in round nine where Treacy and Amiss kicked two goals each and Jackson kicked three.
“The Sydney game was where everything clicked amongst the three and you could see how it was going to work.
“They all have a combination of tools that can work well together for a long time.
“In a tall forward sense, they’re babies still and the more footy they play together and the more cohesion they build amongst themselves, the better they’ll get.
“They’ll keep improving for the next four to five years. It’s very exciting for the Club.”
Treacy is the third player to commit to Fremantle this week, joined by Amiss and midfielder Matthew Johnson, who also signed on until 2026.
Walls said it was pleasing to see so many players want to commit to the Club, especially with Tasmania set to join the AFL as a 19th team.
“With Tasmania coming in, we're trying to extend out our quality core,” Walls said.
“For us, it’s about keeping this group together for as long as we can.”
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