Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich has enjoyed a decorated AFL career. Picture: GETTY IMAGES.
Fremantle forward Matthew Pavlich will happily step down as captain when he feels the time is right, saying he has already discussed a succession plan with the club.
Pavlich has established himself as Fremantle's greatest player during his decorated 279-game career, with his six All-Australian awards, six best-and- fairests, and 558 goals all records at the club.
The 31-year-old, who has been captain since 2007, has no immediate plans to step down.
But Pavlich said there were plenty of candidates to replace him once the time was right to pass over the baton.
Aaron Sandilands and Luke McPharlin are likely to be overlooked given they are in the twilight of their careers.
But the likes of David Mundy, Matt de Boer, Nat Fyfe and Hayden Ballantyne would be right in the mix, while Pavlich said Chris Mayne, Stephen Hill, Garrick Ibbotson and Tendai Mzungu were other emerging players who offered sound leadership.
Pavlich has been in close contact with chief executive Steve Rosich, football operations manager Chris Bond and coach Ross Lyon about a succession plan, and said he would embrace the change when the time was right.
"I certainly don't want to stand in the way of anyone. I don't want to suffocate the oxygen out of any other internal candidates," Pavlich said yesterday.