Fremantle have secured defender Judd McVee in a trade with the Melbourne Demons on day three of the 2025 Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period.
McVee is now a Fremantle player after the Club and the Demons agreed to a trade, with Fremantle sending pick 23 in the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft to Melbourne in exchange for the 22-year-old defender.
McVee played 65 games after making his AFL debut in 2023, the same season he claimed the Harold Ball Memorial Trophy (Melbourne’s Best Young Player Award).
He has recorded two top-10 finishes in Melbourne’s best and fairest - seventh place in 2024 and ninth place in 2023.
Raised in Geraldton, McVee played for colts and reserves for WAFL Club East Fremantle before being selected by Melbourne as a rookie in 2021.
He locked down a spot in the Demons backline over three seasons, although his 2025 campaign was delayed until Round 7 by a pre-season hamstring injury.
Fremantle Head of Player Personnel David Walls says bringing another talented young West Australian home is a great result for the Club.
“He’s one we’ve had our eye on for a while, so to get the deal done early in the trade period is great for the Club,” Walls said.
“We know the calibre of player Judd is and we’ve seen him play lockdown roles and across halfback for the Demons.
“To bring in a player of Judd’s quality while also maintaining a presence in the first round of the upcoming Telstra Draft is an outcome we’re really pleased with.
“Still just 22 years old with 65 AFL games already under his belt, we think he fits the age profile of our list nicely and still has plenty of growth left in him.”
The trade follows an earlier three-way pick swap involving West Coast and Brisbane which saw Fremantle exchange selections 12, 33, 44 and 50 to receive picks 19, 23 and 46. Fremantle then used pick 23 to acquire McVee.
Fremantle current 2025 Telstra AFL Draft hand: 19, 46, 68
