The time for talk is over at Fremantle, with only a flag set to be enough to truly satisfy them in 2025.

It’s a big call for a club that has made the finals just once in the past nine years and has yet to taste premiership success since their introduction in 1995.

But Fremantle are going all in this year, believing they boast the star-studded list and unrelenting work ethic needed for premiership success, as well as the perfect coach to guide them to the promised land.

The addition of two-time Richmond premiership winner Shai Bolton has further whetted the appetite of Dockers fans.

And a quick glance at last year is proof enough that labelling Fremantle a premiership contender isn’t as far-fetched as it may first sound.

The Dockers were sitting pretty in third spot with four games remaining in 2024.

Four straight losses, on the back of injuries to spine players Sean Darcy, Alex Pearce and Josh Treacy, tumbled Fremantle to 10th with a 12-10-1 record.

Fremantle players expressed their heartbreak in the immediate aftermath of the late-season choke, vowing to come back bigger and better for 2025.

Captain Pearce believes the player group have lived up to their word.

“It was devastating,” Pearce told AAP when asked about the end of last year.

“It was really tough after that final round. We did need to put things in perspective afterwards and acknowledge some of the good stuff we did throughout the year.

“But I know that it hurt a lot of guys and it contributed to everyone coming back in good shape and competing really hard over this pre-season, because we’ve got something to prove.”

As a general consensus, Fremantle are being tipped to scrape into the top eight in 2025.

That won’t be enough to satisfy the success-starved club.

Fremantle president Chris Sutherland used the season launch to declare the club as ready as it has ever been to chase the cup.

Star midfielder Caleb Serong proclaimed the Dockers had everything they needed to win the flag, and that a top-four finish was their expectation.

Fremantle fans are loving the bold goals the team have set.

“It’s high,” Pearce said of the internal expectation.

“That’s why we’re here. We felt like last season there were times where we thought we were good enough to go deep in September.

“We feel like we’ve improved our footy over this pre-season, so we’re not here to muck around.

“We’re here to really compete and be there at the business end.”

A fingernail-deep analysis - one of Ross Lyon’s favourite sayings by the way - would suggest Fremantle won’t make a sustained run in September given their lack of recent success.

But let’s dig a little deeper.

Fremantle boast arguably the most talented young list in the league, and a glut of their players will hit their prime over the coming years, including in 2025.

A midfield consisting of Serong, Andrew Brayshaw and Hayden Young - along with bursts from Bolton - is A-class.

Nat Fyfe’s name wasn’t mentioned in that midfield group, purely because Fremantle no longer need to rely on the two-time Brownlow medallist.

If Fyfe can contribute in any meaningful way, it will be a bonus. But even without him, Fremantle possess a star-studded midfield capable of tearing opposition sides to shreds.

A defence led by Pearce, Brennan Cox and Luke Ryan is rock solid.

Josh Draper is an emerging defensive star, while Heath Chapman, Jordan Clark and Brandon Walker are all class and provide excellent rebound.

A forward line composing Treacy, Jye Amiss and Luke Jackson is formidable.

Treacy kicked 45.15 last season to establish himself as the alpha male of Fremantle’s attack, while 21-year-old Amiss chipped in with 36.

Jackson’s potential is limitless. He only kicked 21 goals last season, but his ability to lead the ruck, play as a big-bodied midfielder or as a high-flying forward has led to him being dubbed a footballing unicorn.

As for the goalsneaks at the feet of the big guys?

Prized recruit Bolton will lead the way, alongside fellow class acts Michael Walters, Michael Frederick and Sam Switkowski, while fans can expect Nathan O’Driscoll to be a revelation on the wing this year.

“He’s been great for us,” Pearce said of Bolton.

“He’s been training well and he’s very exciting. He’s pretty dangerous, he’s fitted in really well and we can’t wait to see what he can do in the purple.”

One big area of concern for Fremantle is the durability of ruckman Darcy.

The 26 year-old will miss the start of the season due to knee and ankle issues, and he has played just 12 and 15 games over the past two years.

If Darcy can get his body right, it will allow Fremantle to have more flexibility with how they use Jackson.

In Darcy’s absence, 24-year-old Liam Reidy is set to be handed the keys to the ruck - a huge responsibility for a player with just two games of AFL experience.

Coach Justin Longmuir recently signed an interesting contract with the club.

Instead of being locked in for a certain time, he has now effectively become a full-time employee of the Dockers.

It means if things go bad, he can be easily shown the door.

But if things go well, expect him to remain in purple for years to come, and earning some huge bonuses along the way.

In late 2021, Fremantle released an audacious strategic plan that stated it was targeting both a men’s and women’s premiership by 2025, along with at least three top-four finishes from each of the sides.

In hindsight, it was too ambitious, especially the top-four aspect.

But given the talent on Fremantle’s men’s list and the age demographic, the Dockers should now be boldly aiming for two men’s flags in the next five or six years.

Will 2025 be Wharfie Time, or yet another false dawn?

Either way, strap yourselves in.