Fremantle boss Joe Brierty has emphatically shut down any possibility of the Dockers trading out-of-favour ruckman Sean Darcy despite the star struggling to break into the side in the back half of the season.

Darcy was overlooked for recruit Mason Cox for the majority of the second half of 2027, including the club’s grand final defeat to Brisbane at the MCG at the weekend — only their second ever in club history.

The 28-year-old is viewed as gettable by eastern states clubs because of his lack of AFL selection — having played the last of his seven games this season in round 17 — despite being contracted until the end of 2030.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Brierty said the Dockers had no interest in putting the 134-game ruckman on the trade table despite speculation.

“Sean wants to stay, and we want Sean to stay. He’s got a fair fire in his belly to get back into the (best) 23,” he said.

“He’s a Doig medallist. We talk about the calibre of the player, and when he’s up and about, playing his best footy, he needs to get his body right. He needs that continuity, and 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. 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 we see him being in the purple.”

While Darcy was overlooked for Cox, he played a pivotal role in Peel Thunder’s fourth WAFL premiership, with 30 hit-outs, 14 disposals and six tackles in the grand final victory against Claremont.

Darcy had been coach Justin Longmuir’s preferred partner for No.1 ruckman and eventual All-Australian Luke Jackson to start the season, but was sidelined with a concussion in the round five win against Collingwood.

He would return in round 16 against Gold Coast, but would be “managed” after the loss to Greater Western Sydney in Canberra the following week and not play again in the AFL side this season.

However, Cox struggled for impact in the grand final defeat to the Lions, finishing with only two touches and four hit-outs in only 32 per cent game time.

The 35-year-old is out of contract at the end of next year, having signed a two-year deal when he joined the Dockers after being delisted by Collingwood at the end of the 2025 season.