Fremantle AFLW veteran Ash Brazill will be swapping the boots for the whiteboard after the Dockers defender announced this season will be her last.

The 36-year-old has been at the club since 2024 following a six-year stint at Collingwood, playing 24 games with her leadership across the defensive line proving crucial.

However, Brazill will call time on her career at the end of the season, revealing she will be taking over as senior coach of Peel Thunder’s WAFLW team.

“It’s something I’m really proud of and really excited for. I’ve thought about and achieved everything I’ve wanted in my career, and now it’s time for me to give back,” she said.

“I did have the option to play and coach, but for me I’ve been lucky enough to have the most incredible coaches who are extremely dedicated, and I want to give these players all of me.”

It brings an end to a lengthy sporting career, having also represented the Australian Diamonds and West Coast Fever in netball, including a World Cup win in 2023.

Brazill said her time as an assistant coach at the Fever last season helped make her mind up on switching to coaching.

“I absolutely loved working with West Coast Fever, and that’s something I’ll probably continue with as well, and being in that environment is probably what made me realise I’m getting more enjoyment out of coaching than playing,” she said.

Despite making the call just three games into the season, Brazill said her focus for now still remains squarely on the field.

“I’m all in for the rest of the year. I was gutted to miss this weekend with concussion, but when I’m out there I feel like that little kid who picked up a ball and two and wanted to kick it,” she said.

“As much as people think it’s an end of era for me, it’s just the next step of my sporting career.”