Fremantle is “absolutely” primed to be a top-four side next season after a key trade addition hailed as “magnificent” dealing by the club’s list bosses.

The Dockers on Wednesday dealt the no.23 pick to Melbourne for emerging defender Judd McVee, boosting their stout back six after earlier swapping picks with Brisbane and West Coast in a mega trade.

McVee, who hails from West Australian town Geraldton, figures to slot into Fremantle’s backline alongside Jordan Clark and play an “expansive” role a bit higher up the ground with the ball in his hands more.

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The Dockers — in the three-team trade centred around Brandon Starcevich — acquired Pick 23 effectively by moving down from no.12 to no.19, and then on-trading no.23 to the Demons in what the Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph called a “magnificent deal”.

“They went into the trade discussions today with this mega trade accepting that they would have to give up their number-one overall pick,” he began on Fox Footy’s Trading Day.

“Now, as it turned out, they were able to get this deal done for McVee, sliding from 12 to 19 — it is a magnificent deal for a club that, let’s face it, we’ve all criticised their coach, (but) they just keep bringing in local talent.

“McVee kept the likes of Jack Higgins and Paul Curtis goalless this year, he’s an elite stopping intercept defender, his best is super, he’s been promised that expansive role there. Jordan Clark’s your running mate, play at half-back … I think it’s a big loss for Melbourne.”

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Former Sydney champion and 1988 Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy gave plaudits to the man leading the Dockers’ list management efforts.

“It’s a massive blow for Melbourne (losing McVee),” Healy said on Fox Footy.

“He’s another elite kid who comes into the system. They (the Dockers) are doing it well. (Fremantle list boss) David Walls doesn’t make too many mistakes.

“He has helped rebuild that club with absolute professionalism and real acuity with the (recruitments) he nails.”

Walls was in charge of the Dockers’ list team when the club nabbed Josh Treacy in the 2020 rookie draft, traded for the aforementioned Clark — who won his first All-Australian blazer this year — in 2021, traded for Luke Jackson in 2022, and traded for Shai Bolton last year in the same off-season it drafted Rising Star Murphy Reid.

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Western Bulldogs legend Brad Johnson also praised the McVee addition and said the Dockers were well-placed for a big season next year after 16 wins and a finals berth from sixth spot in 2025.

“He (McVee) can run, of course, and use the ball quite well. He can intercept, but he can stop the best smalls as well in the competition, which he was able to do in 2025,” Johnson said on Wednesday, before claiming the Dockers were bound for big things in ‘26.

“For Fremantle then, they’re a top-four team next year. Absolutely a top-four team. Because they’ve got their forward half of the ground right — their defence has always been strong, their midfield is very, very strong … I think they’re top four.”