Sydney Swans recruit Jai Serong reveals why he turned down chance to join brother Caleb at Fremantle Dockers

Jai Serong has revealed why he turned down a chance to join his brother Caleb at Fremantle and the “difficult conversation” that followed his decision to join Sydney. The younger brother of the Dockers vice captain was on the Dockers’ radar for more than a year when his contract at Hawthorn expired at the end of last season. After just 10 games across four seasons in brown and gold, the key defender was torn between more opportunities in red and white or playing alongside his older brother in purple. While he ultimately chose the Swans, the 23-year-old revealed it was not an easy decision. “I obviously spoke with both clubs and both clubs put forward really exciting ideas towards me,” Jai told The West Australian. “Both clubs stood out as having very strong people in the right places and they were both really impressive. “But ultimately just felt that the Swans was the right opportunity for me in terms of the position I was going to play and things like that. “It was a very tough decision. Obviously having Caleb there was something that was drawing me towards Freo but eventually went with Sydney and have been really happy with the decision so far.” Despite opting against a move west, Jai said the three-time All-Australian was nothing but supportive as he weighed up his future. “He left me to make my own decision, which I’m really grateful for. He didn’t try and sway me any way, he just let me make my decision and was really supportive either way,” he said. “As soon as I told him, I thought he would have been really disappointed but he was really happy for me at the same time, he just wanted what was best and what I felt was best for me. “It was obviously difficult and it was a difficult conversation to have but he was really supportive throughout the whole process and didn’t try to have too much input, he just let me to make my decision and it’s something I’m really appreciative of.” The brothers will go head-to-head for the first time since Jai joined Sydney in a blockbuster, top-of-the-table clash at Optus Stadium on Thursday night. It will mark only the second time the two have crossed paths at AFL level, having last played each other back in 2023. Jai revealed that while the pair have exchanged words ahead of the high-stakes game, they both remained tight-lipped when it came to footy chat. “We spoke on the phone a couple of days ago, and it was a bit weird to be honest, because we usually chat footy about how we’re going, how we’re feeling about the week ahead, but we were both playing a straight bat,” he said. “I’m going to catch up with him over the next couple of days but I’ll probably save most of it for after the game, but it is a bit of a strange one because we usually want to chat about footy and how we’re going but we just gave that one a miss.” When they’re not preparing to face each-other on the footy field, the pair often reach out to eachother about what they’re going through, whether it be on or off the field. It’s a unique bond that Jai says he’s very grateful for. “It helps that we’re both in similar positions, both playing at the elite level of footy so it’s nice to have someone who understands and has the same issues and you can chat to about similar things,” he said. “We’re able to bounce off different ideas and different troubles that we’re having and we can chat through it because they can obviously understand what you’re going through which is nice. “We have a really special relationship and it’s one I’m really grateful for.”