Brandon Matera among four more Fremantle Dockers to be delisted

Braden QuartermaineThe West Australian
VideoAfter an inaccurate day, Brandon Matera found the radar with this last-term goal to help Fremantle pull clear of Geelong.

Brandon Matera’s Fremantle career is over after just 43 games after the small forward was told today he would be delisted.

Matera joined rookie-listed trio Hugh Dixon, Tom North and Jarvis Pina in being told their time was up as the Dockers completed another round of list cuts.

It took the total number of players cut to eight after Cam McCarthy, Jason Carter, Dillon O’Reilly and Isiah Butters were released during the season.

Matera, the son of inaugural West Coast player Wally Matera and the nephew of Eagles greats Peter and Phil, is expected to try to continue his AFL career elsewhere in 2021.

MORE: EVERY DOCKER’S 2020 SEASON GRADED

Read more...

The 28-year-old kicked a career-high 30 goals last season but made just five appearances this year amid concerns about the defensive side of his game.

Fremantle football manager Peter Bell said there were “some really tough conversations” held today.

“This is always a really difficult time of year and made more difficult this year because of the looming list cuts of which we don’t have exact clarity,” Bell said.

“There are still some uncontracted players at the club and we’re just waiting on exact list sizes to come through from the AFL. We don’t have a timeline on that but clearly, it’s a period of much anxiety for the players concerned and also the rest of the club without this certainty.”

Camera IconBrandon Matera has been delisted. Credit: Jono Searle/AFL Photos/via AFL Photos

Matera arrived from the Gold Coast for a third-round pick at the end of 2017 and has played a total of 144 games.

The Dockers once held high hopes for Dixon, 21, as a key forward but he broke through for only one game in three years and was tried as a defender in reserves games this year.

Midfielder North, 21, was overtaken by fellow onballers Andrew Brayshaw, Adam Cerra and Caleb Serong and didn’t play a senior game.

“Brandon has been at the club for three years and he’s been a valued team member and we wish him well for the future,” Bell said.

“We also spoke with Hugh Dixon, who’s been at the club for three years. Hugh’s got a lot of talent but unfortunately, we had to inform him also that there wouldn’t be a spot on the list for 2021.

“Tom’s been with the club for three years. He made enormous inroads this year, he was an emergency on a number of occasions but unfortunately, couldn’t break through for an AFL game.

“He’s a really diligent player and professional. He leaves with all of our support and best wishes for the future also.

“Jarvis was a rookie list selection last year, he’s had an enormous impact on the group with his energy and his enthusiasm.

“He was a really popular teammate and was popular with staff members also. He’s very young and, hopefully, he gets another opportunity at the elite level.”

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails