Fremantle have confirmed star defender Chris Tarrant will leave the AFL club to return to Melbourne.

Tarrant, who turns 30 on Saturday and has played 233 AFL games, is expected to be snapped up by a Victorian club in October's trade week, with Carlton and Hawthorn both believed to be among the suitors.

The Dockers had known for some time that Tarrant, whose four-year contract ended this season, wanted to move to Melbourne for personal reasons.

But they offered him an extended off-season break and extra time in Melbourne after away games in what has proved a fruitless bid to convince him to stay.

Fremantle football manager Chris Bond said in a statement on Sunday that the club accepted Tarrant's decision not to renew his contract and understood his reasons for heading home to Melbourne.

Tarrant spent the first nine seasons of his career in attack with Collingwood, playing 161 games from 1998-2006, leading the Magpies' goal-kicking five times and earning All Australian selection in 2003.

He was traded to the Dockers at the end of 2006, but after two modest seasons up forward, he was moved into defence last year in what proved a masterstroke.

He continued his strong form into the first 13 rounds of this season, before a heel injury cost him a four-game stint.

Tarrant returned against West Coast in round 18, but injured his knee in that match, which kept him out for the rest of the season.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP