Improved Fremantle defender Karl Worner has been rewarded for his impressive 2025 campaign by securing a two-year contract extension to remain with the Dockers.

Having received few chances at senior level in his first three seasons since being rookie drafted in 2021, Worner has become a key part of Freo’s line-up this year in a defensive role.

The 23-year-old hasn’t missed a game since being recalled in round three and has helped negate the impact of opponents such as Hawthorn’s Dylan Moore and Adelaide’s Ben Keays to help the Dockers to wins over potential finals rivals.

Worner’s new deal will see him remain in the west until at least the end of 2027, with the Oakleigh Chargers product saying he was keen to repay the club after he was drafted at a difficult time.

Worner was unable to head to WA until February 2022 - three months after being selected - due to COVID border restrictions.

“I love this football club and I’m really grateful for the opportunity they gave me back in 2021 after two pretty tough years of COVID,” Worner said.

“I’m just really grateful they’ve given me two more years to continue developing my game and take it to another level.

“It’s nice to finally get a bit of continuity in my football, which I probably haven’t quite had over my first three years.

“But off the back of a strong pre-season, it’s great to be playing the majority of games this year as I keep developing.

“I think you’re pretty naive when you first come into a football club.

“It took a couple of years to really build a strong base, not just with my strength, but also with the confidence to use it, and use it in the right way.”

Fremantle’s head of player personnel David Walls said the new deal was testament to Worner’s hunger for improvement, including his ability to transition from a wing role into defence.

“He came in as a rookie with several areas of his game that needed work, but he’s just kept working and working and improved every year,” Walls said.

“He’s settling into the backline and has only missed one game this year.

“As he plays more and reaches the 50-game mark, he’ll continue to get better. As a recruiting team, we watched a lot of Carey (Grammar) when he was playing with Nick Daicos (Collingwood), Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell (Gold Coast).

“He was a rebound, intercept defender and also played on the wing. He has great running capacity to cover the ground and can lock down defensively as well.”