Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Fremantle have shored up their small forward stocks by re-signing Isaiah Dudley until the end of 2029, just two days after Sam Switkowski announced his shock retirement.
And journeyman defender Oscar McDonald has been rewarded for his hot late-season form with a new one-year deal.
Dudley was a bargain rookie pick-up through the 2025 supplementary selection period and he had already done enough this season to trigger a one-year extension for 2027.
But with Switkowski to retire at the end of the upcoming finals, securing Dudley on a longer-term deal became even more important for Fremantle with the 23-year-old signing until the end of 2029.
Dudley has kicked 43 goals across 39 games since joining Fremantle, including 28 goals this year, and looms as a key figure in next Thursday’s qualifying final against Hawthorn in Perth.
The fleet-footed goalsneak has a knack of producing the spectacular, with his dancing effort against Adelaide in the penultimate round being one of the goals of the season.
“This is the first year where he’s had a full pre-season after being picked up by the club as an SSP pick in February 2025, and we’ve seen what that work on and off the track can do for him,” Fremantle list manager David Walls said in a statement.
“He has great relationships with Shai Bolton, Michael Frederick and, more broadly, the entire squad, and he’s certainly a fan favourite.
“We can’t wait to see what the future with Duds holds for Freo.”
McDonald, who spent his first six years at Melbourne before a two-season stint at Carlton, joined Fremantle ahead of the 2024 campaign as a back-up defender.
The 30-year-old suffered a significant knee injury during his debut game for the club that year and has spent much of the past two seasons in the WAFL.
But the 104-game veteran has impressed every time he has come into the senior side, with Brennan Cox’s calf injury meaning McDonald is a lock to play in at least the qualifying final against Hawthorn.
McDonald’s form has been so strong of late coach Justin Longmuir opted to keep him in the side for the tail-end of the home-and-away season even when Alex Pearce and Cox were fit.
“Oscar has been really important for us this year. Early on he was filling roles, but the back end of the season saw him gather some really strong form and hold down his spot,” Walls said.
Wingman Toby Whan has signed a new two-year deal with Fremantle to complete the club’s signing announcements on Friday.
