Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich will play on for a 16th AFL season in 2015 after signing a one-year deal with the club.

The 32-year-old, whose contract was due to expire at season’s end, said he made the decision after speaking at length with coach Ross Lyon, medical staff and his wife Lauren.

“Clearly, when you get to this age, it’s a mind and body decision,” he said in a statement.

“We sat down and had a bit of a chat about where I was at.

“It was more about whether or not I could keep playing my role for the team and keep playing at a reasonably high standard. That was important in the decision making process.”

Pavlich this year became the first player from a West Australian AFL club to reach the 300-game milestone.

The skipper admitted that four years ago, when he last extended his contract with the Dockers, he didn’t see himself playing on for this long.

“This is uncharted territory, but we’ll just keep pushing forward, and as long as my mind and body are willing, I’ll keep going … Certainly, I think I entered this season with the view that it could well be my last,” he said.

“It’s something that well keep monitoring as we go.”