Sam Switkowski has made a shock retirement call, with the Fremantle forward set to finish his AFL career at the conclusion of the season.

The 29-year-old forward has called time on his nine-year stint with the Dockers in what the club called a “family-driven decision” as he gets set to welcome his first child.

Since being plucked out of VFL side Box Hill as a mature-aged recruit in 2017, Switkowski has gone on to play 127 AFL games, kicking 78 goals as a pressure forward.

In a meeting this afternoon, Switkowski told his teammates of the news he will return to his home State of Victoria at the conclusion of their campaign.

“It’s definitely been something that I’ve been thinking about for a long time,” Switkowski said.

“I’ve been weighing up when might be the right time to head back home and reconnect with family and friends because it’s something that’s always been really important to me — even more so now — starting a new family of my own.

“It’s been a tough decision because the journey’s been so incredible. I’ve absolutely loved my time at Freo.

“I’ve hit that point now that I have good clarity on who I am as a person and my values, and the things that are really important to me. It just feels like it’s the right time to move onto the next phase of my life.

“Being around family and friends again to set up Sav (wife Savannah), myself and my family in the best place to be the best father and husband I can be.”

After playing two senior games in his first year at Fremantle, Switkowski established himself in their senior side in 2019, making 18 appearances for the Dockers.

A stress fracture in his back sidelined him for the entirety of the 2020 season but he has been a consistent presence in their side since, lining up in at least 17 AFL games in each of the last four seasons.

He has twice matched his single-game goals record of three throughout his side’s stunning 2026 season, in both their win over Western Bulldogs in round eight and their 127-point demolition of North Melbourne in Bunbury in round 13.

Fremantle’s executive general of manager Joe Brierty said Switkowski would be remembered as a player who always put the team first.

“We’ve been having ongoing discussions with Sam and his management across the year as our focus was to look to extend his playing career with the club beyond 2026,” Brierty said.

“As it became clearer that Sam had decided to head back home to be around family and friends before starting the next phase of his life with Sav, and the impending arrival of their first son — we understood and respected his decision.

“It’s an unusual situation when you have a player that has decided to retire while still playing some of his best football during his time at the club, but this is just a reflection of the calibre and character of the person that Sam is.

“Not for one moment in his time at Fremantle has Sam not invested 100 percent of himself as a player, teammate and leader.”