- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has warned the AFL club cannot take it for granted that injured star Nat Fyfe will re-sign.
Lyon said the Dockers must show the reigning Brownlow Medallist that their plan for success will work.
Fyfe’s season ended in round five with a leg fracture – one of a number of disasters that hit Fremantle this year as they plummeted out of premiership contention.
After that round-five loss to Carlton, Lyon said that they had to re-stump, re-wire and re-plumb.
Last weekend, club chief executive Steve Rosich outlined a plan where the Dockers would recruit heavily through the next three to four national drafts as they rebuild their playing list.
Fyfe is Fremantle’s next captain and Lyon said the 24-year-old is exerting his leadership around the club.
But the coach pointed out that Fyfe also wants to achieve success.
“You have to bring people along for the journey … they have to buy into the plan,” Lyon told Fox Footy’s On The Couch.
“So as we finalise it and decisions are made, you have to bring Nathan along.
“If Nathan believes in that plan and he sees success coming his way, he’ll be there, I have no doubt.
“But if he doesn’t believe in the plan, and we don’t bring him along, he’d be a chance to leave.”
Lyon hopes Fremantle can return to the finals next season.
He said the draft was their best option to rebuild the team.
“We could load up and attract free agents and uncontracted players, but if that failed then you’d be in a real hole,” Lyon said.
“We want to take care of the present and the future at the same time.
“We don’t want to sell the farm, either … we would still like to play finals next year.
“We think it’s possible – anything’s possible.”
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.