FREMANTLE midfielder Michael Barlow says the door is still ajar to remain at the Dockers next year despite an understanding from the club that he may need to continue his career elsewhere.
Barlow, 28, is out of contract but after seven seasons at Fremantle is one year shy of qualifying for free agency.
He met with Fremantle last week to discuss his future but remains in limbo as the club continues to work through plans to rebuild the list.
The Dockers have already delisted three players, Sean Hurley, Tanner Smith and Anthony Morabito.
But 17 players are still involved in the WAFL finals series for Peel Thunder, which has delayed decisions on a raft of list management issues.
Barlow told EON Sports Radio on Wednesday that he understands that he sits outside of the Dockers' rebuild strategy but remains open to all options.
"The club and I have been really mature in our discussions about where I sit within the framework of the club, and the fact that it might be best for myself to seek opportunity elsewhere," Barlow said.
"But I have maintained my point of view that the door is ajar with Fremantle, for sure. But I have to do my due diligence, as well as my management, to make sure I'm getting the best result for myself as a footballer.
"I'm from Victoria and I've always got a soft spot for Victoria but I just want to continue to play, and know that I have the capacity to continue to play AFL football wherever that (may) be.
"Again, I just want to maintain my contention that I haven't closed the door on anything and I'm remaining very diplomatic about everything. I'm really open-minded to continuing my AFL career for years to come wherever that may be."
Barlow has not played since suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in round 17 that required surgery.
He admitted that the long period of waiting without any certainty over his future had been difficult to handle.
"I've found it really difficult, to be honest," Barlow said.
"Fremantle's been a big part, the only part, of my AFL career and they've just been fantastic for my development as a footballer and as a person.
"The nature of the industry is if I do move on and find opportunity elsewhere, I'll never begrudge the club or anything like that because it's been such a huge part of my existence as a person.
"I think the timeframe is difficult when we've been out of finals contention for so long and now the finals are on and that period of uncertainty with free agency and trade period and what players are going where, that's probably the most difficult thing about it, the timing of it all."
