A versatile player, Pavlich is widely regarded as one of the premier AFL centre half-forwards of the modern era, achieving All-Australian selection six times between 2002 and 2008, twice representing Australia in the International Rules Series and representing the Dream Team in the 2008 AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match.

[5] He went on to play the remaining 18 games for the season, earning himself a Rising star nomination in Round 17[4] while contributing consistently and finished ninth in the club's best and fairest award.

He managed to underline his potential with some ball grabbing performances including two 4-goal hauls against the Brisbane Lions which earned him 2 Brownlow votes, the first of his career.

Playing against some of the power forwards of the competition, Pavlich underlined his versatility and talent as a footballer, as he displayed a smooth transition into the role.

He showed the uncanny ability of shutting down opponents, while gathering plenty of possession and setting up play further up the ground.

The move paid massive dividends for the team, as Pavlich topped Fremantle's list of goalkickers, with 61 goals for the season.

Pavlich spent 2010 rotating between the midfield and forward line, averaging 18.9 disposals and leading the goal-kicking for the Dockers with 61 goals, helping his team make the finals for the first time since 2006.

This saw Pav end the year with 9 Brownlow medal votes, the second highest for the Dockers and win his 6th club best & fairest, narrowly beating Nathan Fyfe.

Following a permanent move to the forward line in the second half of the year, Pavlich kicked 55 goals in his final 13 games.

His own form mirrored Fremantle's late-season resurgence, the highlights being an 8-goal haul in the Round 19 Western Derby and 6 goals in an Elimination Final victory against reigning premiers Geelong at the MCG.

[12] Despite losing their leading goal kicker Fremantle remained in good form contending for a top four finish on the ladder throughout the season.

Pavlich played a pivotal role kicking 3 goals leading the Dockers to a 25-point victory and the clubs first ever AFL Grand Final appearance.

On 13 January 2016, Pavlich relinquished the captaincy of the Fremantle Football Club after nine seasons, and was replaced by David Mundy.

"[18] In August, Pavlich's 353rd and final game saw Fremantle defeat the eventual Premiers, the Western Bulldogs, by 20 points.

[20] Pavlich said he planned to have a six-month break with his family before pursuing a new career outside football, stating, "I've been doing this for 17 years; I need to do something different, I need to get into another industry and challenge myself in another sphere of life.

[22] In late December 2018, Pavlich was appointed as a correspondent for Nine's Wide World of Sports coverage of the Hopman Cup Tennis tournament in Perth.