Fremantle Dockers midfielder Nathan O’Driscoll ready for breakout 2025 season, according to Nathan Wilson

Fremantle midfielder Nathan O’Driscoll has been tipped as the Docker most likely to have a breakout season with a former teammate saying he’s the most exciting prospect from Peel Thunder’s 2024 WAFL premiership team. Fremantle will enter Saturday’s clash against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium without star trio Hayden Young (hamstring), Nat Fyfe (knee) and Shai Bolton (leg) and that has opened the door for a large group of midfielders who lacked opportunities during 2024. That group performed strongly in the WAFL, winning the premiership with Peel. Former Docker Nathan Wilson played in that team and said O’Driscoll stood out as the player who could help Fremantle rise to another level. The 22-year-old missed the majority of last season due to injury, but kicked two goals against Melbourne during the pre-season and also impressed against the Indigenous All Stars. “I reckon he’s an absolute gun and will have a great season,” Wilson told The West Australian. “Watching that game against Melbourne, I could tell he’s had a big pre-season. He is absolutely flying and the bloke can run all day. He was injured for most of last year but we saw glimpses of it two years ago when he was kicking all those goals. “He’s one of the top runners at the club. I really look forward to watching what he can do this season.” O’Driscoll’s bigger body and raking left foot kick have already given Fremantle’s midfield a different look. Coach Justin Longmuir showed his faith in the youngster towards the end of last year when he brought him on as the sub against Greater Western Sydney and immediately threw him into the centre square. Wilson is also excited about Cooper Simpson’s development after making his debut during 2024. But he said O’Driscoll’s combination of running power, size and kicking made him a major weapon. “He’s got a really good kick on him but it’s his ability to run from contest to contest that most people wouldn’t see. His GPS numbers are crazy,” Wilson explained. “He gets up and down the ground and loves to get forward. He loves to kick a goal and he celebrates pretty well too. We saw that in the finals a couple of years ago. “But at the back end of the season, he did some tagging and that was really good for his development. I see him going through the midfield and wing because he can run.”