Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is confident Nat Fyfe’s goalkicking woes will soon end despite the two-time Brownlow medallist enduring another wayward display in front of the big sticks.
Just a fortnight after booting 0.6 against Hawthorn, Fyfe returned 0.4 in Fremantle’s 51-point AFL win over North Melbourne on Saturday night.
It took Fyfe’s season tally to 1.12 and has raised some serious question marks about his ability to convert shots on goal.
Longmuir, who himself booted 0.7 during a match for Fremantle in 2003, has no doubt the tide will soon turn for Fyfe.
“There’s no other fix bar from just keep practising,” Longmuir said.
“I think he’s improved his kicking over the last couple of years, especially his field kicking. He rarely misses a target.
“I’ve got no doubt that if he keeps putting himself in dangerous positions and creating shots on goal, they will start going through.
“He’s probably rushing the snaps and on-the-run ones a bit. He can probably settle and take a little bit more time and get a bit closer, especially the one on the run.
“But I’ve got no issues with his appetite to get better. He probably has more set shots and more shots on goal (at training) than anyone else in our side.
“So I’m pretty confident they will start going through the big sticks.”
Fyfe was a key contributor in the 14.15 (99) to 6.12 (48) win over North Melbourne, tallying 34 disposals, four contested marks, and seven clearances in a standout display.
Fremantle’s third win on the trot boosted their season record to 4-2 ahead of next week’s western derby against West Coast.
Dockers defender Brennan Cox is in doubt for that match after rolling his ankle in the final quarter against North Melbourne and being subbed out of the game.
“It doesn’t look too serious at this stage,” Longmuir said.
“We’ll have to get it scanned and see how he pulls up.”
North Melbourne are 0-6 and with a meagre percentage of 45.9.
And things are about to get a whole lot tougher, with North set to take on unbeaten Melbourne in Tasmania next week.
That match could be moved back to Melbourne given the Kangaroos played in Western Australia during the State’s three-day COVID-19 lockdown.
“The Spirit of Tasmania is a terrific supporter of ours and it would be extremely disappointing if we were unable to get down there,” Kangaroos coach David Noble said.
“We are in hands of governments at the moment and have to follow protocols in terms of what gets delivered.”
JesusLover33
Roar Rookie
I am a Dockers supporter and I don't agree with their coach, Justin Longmuir, that there will soon be a transformation in Nat Fyfe's fortunes when he is faced with an opportunity to kick goals instead of points. He seems to have a serious mental block when he sees the big sticks looming. I think his ploy of kicking the ball across his body has been successful when he takes set shots. He may have to take a leaf out of former Docker Chris Mayne who became a goal kicking wizard by calming himself, took a deep breath and then took his shot for goals. At one stage his goal kicking stats were 20 goals 3 points. I believe Fyfe might be successful if he imagined he was kicking the ball to a player standing at the centre point of the goal square because he is very capable of kicking the ball accurately to other players around the field. He would have to imagine he was kicking the ball well over the imaginary person's head. Or perhaps he could speak with a sports psychologist.