Barlow, 28, is out of contract at the end of the season and tops an unusually big batch of Dockers under the microscope to be offered extensions or be cut in September.

Even heightened prospects that Dockers management could consider a bombshell trade for injured champion Nat Fyfe could be considered at high level discussions.

Dockers coach Ross Lyon and his football department advisors are heading into what shapes as the biggest turnover of players and support staff in Fremantle's 21 AFL seasons.

Mayne, 27, will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season and could leave Fremantle for any opposition outfit of his choice.

The 165-game veteran forward has already been closely linked with a switch to continue his career in the east where he is understood to have already attracted significant interest.

He is expected to be given indications as early as next week if any new offer is made to stay with Fremantle and wave off a possible free agency move.

If Mayne leaves, as appears more likely, Fremantle will receive a compensation draft pick under AFL free agency rules, with position in November's selection process determined on the weight of his new contract.

Barlow is not a free agent and is understood to be waiting on indications from Lyon and management on prospects of an extension or whether the prolific ball-winner and on-field playing inspiration is moved on in a substantial shake-up of the Dockers list.

Dockers list manager Brad Lloyd is headed for more critical talks across the entire playing roster late this week in approaching formation of a full recruiting strategy for October's trade period and November's national draft.

Barlow is expected back in the Dockers starting line-up for Friday's home clash with finals-bound Geelong after he missed last weekend's loss to Melbourne with a broken finger.

A hefty ball-winner, with an average of 23 possessions an outing across 136 appearances, Barlow confronts a crucial final two months that will shape his hopes of a new deal.

Lyon is ruthlessly assessing claims for extensions from around 20 Dockers, on the back of the now-confirmed retirement of superstar Matthew Pavlich at the end of the season.

Dockers already contracted for next year will also be seriously considered over the final seven home-and-away engagements.

Their values will be scrupulously examined whether they are attractive trade bait to rival outfits in a bid to stockpile critical draft picks or to import ready-made replacements.

Out-of-sorts ruckman Zac Clarke, popular hard nut Matt de Boer and defender Clancee Pearce are other Dockers heading into free agency and considerations on whether to leave or attempt to extend their careers at Fremantle.

Clarke, 26, has substantially diminished his appeal through AFL recruiting circles with a horribly inconsistent 2016 in his eight Dockers appearances, managing an average of only eight disposals an outing and around 19 hit outs with just a couple of marks a game.

It is understood de Boer appeals as a crucial mentor and potential development coach in a planned Dockers revival next season from a hefty draft intake over summer.

De Boer, 26, is also attracting considerable interest as a mentor and coach from eastern states outfits on the rise with substantially young lists.

Pearce, 25, is already negotiating possible WAFL playing options as well as potential long term employment in preparation for a likely cut from the Dockers playing list.

Injury-prone backman Alex Silvagni, the luckless Anthony Morabito, promising young all-rounder Ed Langdon, veteran Tendai Mzungu, as well as key position big men Michael Apeness, Tanner Smith and Jack Hannath, are also all out of contract.

Fremantle is headed for a top-end draft selection with serious prospects of finishing this season at 16th, but have already traded their second pick in last summer's trade for injured midfielder Harley Bennell.

Trading players or a healthy compensation for Mayne could offset Fremantle missing important selections into this year's second round of a draft widely acclaimed by experts as promising to be one of the best ever talent crops.