Club captain and games record holder Matthew Pavlich has delighted Fremantle’s legion of fans by deciding to play on for his 17th AFL season in 2016.



Pavlich has extended his contract to the end of the 2016 AFL season after taking time away from the club to consider his future.



The 33-year-old has played 335 games and kicked 669 goals for the club since he was selected at pick 4 in the 1999 National Draft.



“While I can still play, I will choose to play,” Pavlich said.



“It’s a decision I took very seriously.



“Retiring and playing on were toing and froing in my mind.



“It didn’t necessarily come to me straight away.



“I had thorough discussions with Ross Lyon and Chris Bond and they were so supportive and gave me the time and space I needed.



“I needed to ensure the decision being made was the right one and it suited the football club, myself and my family.



“I had some really good conversations with my wife, Lauren, and, more recently, with my dad.



Pavlich thanked the club for allowing him several weeks following the end of the season to decide.



“To get the time away, get away from football, get away from Perth and really understand what I value and what I want to achieve in this last season was critical,” he said.



“I sincerely thank them.”



Pavlich said he weighed up whether he could physically and mentally play another gruelling season.



“Did I have the passion and desire to keep giving it my all? You can’t be half in in these circumstances,” he said.



“It was more about making the decision about whether or not I could go to the well again and how much water was in that well.



“There was a physical element to it and whether the body could keep going, but, clearly, mentally I needed to make the commitment in my own mind to go to the level I need to play this game.”



Fremantle’s general manager of player management Brad Lloyd said Pavlich’s decision was exciting for the club and its supporters.



"Matthew is a tremendous player and an outstanding leader,” Lloyd said.



“He has been a champion player for this club.



“The club was happy to afford Matthew the time to consider his decision and he is 100 per cent committed to playing on and we’re really excited about that."



Pavlich said the desire to win a premiership was fuelling him but equally was remaining part of the club he cherished.



“The ultimate aim of winning a premiership is the main drive and desire but so is being involved in an elite environment and helping young players, whether young forwards or leaders,” he said.



“The young and up and coming team is very exciting and I still want to be part of that.



“I’ve never taken playing football for granted, it’s an honour and a privilege to pull on the Fremantle jumper every week.”



Pavlich said the result of the trade period had no bearing on his decision to play on.



His career-highlights include six All Australian guernseys, six Doig Medals, Life Membership of the AFL and Fremantle Dockers.

