FREMANTLE has secured captain Matthew Pavlich for the next four seasons, ensuring the club’s most decorated player will end his career in purple.
In a massive boost for Fremantle ahead of its semi-final clash with Geelong on Friday night, Pavlich on Wednesday agreed to terms that will see him remain at the club until the end of the 2014 season.
The 28-year-old, who will qualify for veteran status at Fremantle in 2012, had been linked with a lucrative move to new franchise Gold Coast.
Originally drafted from South Australian club Woodville-West Torrens in 1999 (No. 4 overall), Pavlich has become one of the game’s most outstanding players.
He has been Fremantle's captain since 2007 after taking over from Peter Bell.
Since making his debut in round five, 2000 against Melbourne at the WACA, he has gone on to win five Doig Medals as Fremantle’s best and fairest player (2002, 2005-2008).
Pavlich has also been named All-Australian on six occasions (2002, 2003, 2005-2008).
This season he topped the club's goal kicking list for a seventh time and he is the all-time leading goalkicker at Fremantle.
Pavlich is only three games away from equalling Shane Parker's club record of 238 games.