Source : ABC NEWS
Nine rounds into the 2025 AFL season, Neil Erasmus was at a career crossroad.
The midfielder had played just 25 games since being drafted ahead of the 2022 season, and struggled to force his way into a stacked Fremantle midfield.
He was behind Caleb Serong, Andrew Brayshaw, Jaeger O’Meara and Nat Fyfe in the pecking order, and was playing a lot for Peel Thunder.
“There was [a chance of me leaving] and a little bit around just wanting a fresh start,” Erasmus said.
“There’s only so many times you can play sub and come in and out of the team and I was just looking for a bit more continuity.
“The potential for that elsewhere was probably luring me a little bit.”
Neil Erasmus played just 39 games in his first four years in the AFL, before becoming a central part of the Dockers side this season. (Getty Images: Robert Cianflone)
The 22-year old found form, and a spot in the Dockers side in the second half of the 2025 season, playing 13 more games including the elimination final loss to Gold Coast.
He ultimately signed a three-year deal with the club though until the end of 2028.
“Having some deep thoughts and conversations towards the back end of last year and playing the last couple of games and finding my feet a little bit, and really just enjoying my time made the decision pretty easy,” Erasmus said.
“The club’s been amazing and obviously stoked that I did stay in the end.”
Grand final bound with mates
The decision to stay couldn’t have worked out any better for Erasmus, who has played every game this year for the Dockers, and will run out on the MCG in the club’s second-ever grand final.
A childhood West Coast Eagles fan, Erasmus is now all purple.
“To be honest, in my draft year, I probably went to being a bit indifferent,” he said.
“A few of my favourite players stopped playing for the West Coast, obviously retired and when you get to be interviewed by so many different clubs you kind of see how they go about it and I really respected the way Freo went about it.”
Jye Amiss was selected in the same draft as Neil Erasmus, along with Matthew Johnson. (Getty Images: Paul Kane)
Along with Erasmus, the Dockers selected Jye Amiss and Matthew Johnson in the 2021 national draft, and then took Karl Worner at the rookie draft.
All four have become key parts of Fremantle’s charge to the grand final, though playing alongside Johnson holds a special place.
“I played cricket and footy with him and against him from a really young age. It’s pretty cool to be lining up with him,” Erasmus said.
The Dockers progressed to the decider with a stirring come-from-behind win over Sydney at the SCG, and the scenes in the rooms after the game drove home the scope of the achievement.
“There was a lot of emotion post-game and almost more around the staff, you just feel so happy for them,” Erasmus said.
“They’ve been working here for a lot longer than me personally and it’s just great that they can get a bit of that success.”
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Erasmus said he was particularly happy for two club stalwarts in Paul Salis and Gary Ingraham.
“They talk about the 2013 flag and that team never used to miss a kick at training, like, all the time,” he said.
“They just absolutely love it and it’s just so cool to be able to give them the opportunity to get back there.”
