A couple of years ago, I’d say around about 2018 or 2019, people would always say Fremantle were the “Nat Fyfe team”, and that they could never win without him.
That was admittedly very true, as whenever the Dockers captain was on the sidelines, the team lacked the spark that he could provide, and also lacked composure. Fast forward a few years though and Fremantle are 9-3 coming off wins against the Top 2 teams in Melbourne and Brisbane, with no sign of their captain so far.
Because of this impressive start to the season without the 30-year-old, we’ve seen those like former Bulldogs, Eagles, Magpies and Blues coach, Mick Malthouse suggest that the Dockers offload the two-time Brownlow medallist in the upcoming trade period.
While I’ve also talked about this in the past, it’s an irrelevant discussion to be having. Regardless of whether the team plays better or not, you do not trade a dual Brownlow medallist whilst they still have four or five years left in them. So instead, time would be better used discussing how Nat Fyfe fits into Fremantle’s best 22.
In the last few seasons, especially since Justin Longmuir took the helm in 2020, we’ve seen Fyfe play in the forward line a lot more to give young midfielders like Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw a chance to flourish.
While I get this idea, I don’t think moving the Brownlow Medalist of the previous year out of his natural position was a smart idea at all. Would you move Ollie Wines out of the midfield right now, regardless of the circumstance?
Nat Fyfe (Photo by Carson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Fyfe himself sees this as well, stating, “That experiment of playing forward yielded some good results, but it’s officially over. I’m a midfielder and that’s where I’m playing”.
Going back to that point of giving the young midfielders a chance to flourish, Fyfe moving back into the midfield could also give players like Nathan O’Driscoll and Michael Frederick a chance to play with more control and freedom just like Serong and Brayshaw.
I attended Fyfe’s first WAFL match in over a decade at Leederville Oval on Saturday as Peel defeated Subiaco by 6 points, with the star of the show having a big impact on his team’s win with 24 touches and 4 inside 50s.
His accuracy in front of goal was still rather dodgy though, with 2 behinds and completely missing a set shot to win the game with a few minutes to go, although Freo teammate Josh Treacy saved the day. His delivery inside 50 and around the contest was more Fyfe like, which only further strengthens his case to play more central.
So how does this work exactly? Well, I think the big problem here is Fremantle’s new recruit, Will Brodie from Gold Coast. Brodie struggled to get a game a Gold Coast, and most likely would’ve had to work through the WAFL to earn a game at Fremantle, but was brought in to the side as a “like for like” swap for Fyfe at ruck-rover, with both players being of similar calibre.
Brodie was the biggest steal of the 2021 trade period with the 23-year-old being the one of two players to poll Brownlow votes in more than three games (predicted) along with Andrew Brayshaw, whilst also being the current stat leader for the club in contested possessions and clearances with only 69 percent gametime. Well done to Peter Bell and the Football Department at Cockburn for pulling that deal off.
So with his replacement having the season of his life, Nathan Fyfe may need to find another way to fit back it in. If I look at the six midfielders that lined up against Brisbane on Sunday, I wouldn’t really want any of them to move and have to adjust, despite Andrew Brayshaw saying previously the team would work around the captain.
In contradiction to what I just said, I say do whatever it takes to get Fyfe as the man in and around the ruck contest for Saturday’s clash with Hawthorn, which is looking like it will be played in wet weather. A big body player like him would love conditions like this and could really make something out of nothing, with maybe a couple of tackle busts.
When the weather is better though, he may have to spend a bit more time in the forward line, which is why I’d give him another WAFL game or two to try and get him up to scratch and maybe gain some more confidence kicking in front of goal. It also works well that the Dockers have the bye after this week, meaning the coaches will have plenty of time to chop and change the line-up and game plan.
Trying to fit a dual Brownlow medallist into a team that is flying this season is a big problem for Justin Longmuir, but it’s one that I’m sure he’s happy to have.
If I was JL though, I personally would keep in mind what Jonathan Brown said in commentary on Sunday, which was something along the lines of, “It’s not about fitting players in, it’s about what 22 players are going to win you the game you’re playing”.
Chris M
Guest
Fyfe kicked with appalling inaccuracy in 2021, 6.21 from 15 games. The last thing Fremantle needs is Fyfe playing as a forward and wasting his shots on goal. However, 2021 is the only season that Fyfe has kicked more behinds than goals. He's kicked 164.134 throughout his career so far at about 55% accuracy - not a fantastic conversion rate, but not terrible. If he can correct whatever flaw in his technique was making him so inaccurate in 2021 compared to his career average, he could be a weapon if the coach decides he should spend more time up forward than in the midfield. One thing is for sure: you can always throw Fyfe into the thick of things if Fremantle present midfield setup is getting beaten up during a game.
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Mick Malthouse - yeah he followed that strategy at the Blues. Trade out your best players Dockers so you can experience another decade of hell :laughing:
ScottD
Roar Guru
At the pointy end of the season all players have niggles. So I think this question is somewhat of an easy answer. He will go into a rotating group of midfielders who will all have rests over the next 10 weeks. If each player in the midfield has a single game off over the final 10 rounds then that will benefit the team overall and Fyfe gets 5 games. Slot in a couple of games where he comes off the bench to play midfield drifting forward type role or slots in for someone who is injured and he plays 8 out of the last 10 games without disrupting the team at all. And we want someone to go forward for a rest who is a proven goal kicker then we can move Mundy forward and ease the burden on his body because Fyfe is available for the midfield inside work. Overall I think the question is more than rhetorical as we have had a couple of people out due to Covid or injury or suspension every week for the last 5 or so. He wants to play and will do the role the team needs of him. Hopefully we don’t need him at full forward ????
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Don are you watching the T20 game tonight?
Muttley
Guest
Let’s hope a cork on the end of the fork Ruprecht style :silly:
Ace
Roar Rookie
The more you poke the bear.... He's best left alone . I've never read anyone else on the Roar who can be so impertinent. In his defence I must say his predictions are based on a good knowledge of the game even if terribly biased toward Freo....which is his prerogative
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Fyfe would rather poke spoons into his eyes than play for the Bombers. My words, not his.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
2 of Schultz, Walters and Banfield because it will involve a rotation through the bench. Walters will play because of his midfield pinch hitting too. He is genuine star quality and has very much regained his mojo. Don't underestimate Sonny.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
That was the one thing that stood out in his WAFL return. His goal kicking is still awful. Everything else looked pretty good if not a little rusty. I see him playing half forward where he's more likely to be distributing and hitting up one of the forwards, rather than a stay at home forward due to his goalkicking and the emergence of Griffen Logue.
adamkiwi
Roar Rookie
Nat fits back in. My hope is he does take his time to fit back in, and not play like a bull in a China shop. But the fact he went back to the WAFL shows he thinking long term, which is good. Because quite frankly, Freo desperately needs him come finals. As for trading, not going to happen. Nat is going to be the one to lift the Cup for the first time for Freo. His dream, his drive and with Andy Co, it is going to happen. Maybe not this year, but it will happen - the window is open and purple is coming on.
Alchemist
Roar Rookie
We'll he's going to have to because the team are playing beautifully without him. Let's hope he's worked on his goal kicking if they're looking at more forward time for him
dontknowmuchaboutfootball
Guest
Ha ha ha! Comments in the media from coaches are pure PR spin for a gullible public, but comments from players are pure, spontaneous heart-felt expressions of what they personally believe and want for themselves. That is gold!
DTM
Roar Rookie
I think Fyfe, Mundy and Brodie play similar roles and it's probably ideal to have two of them on the ground. Fyfe is coming off a long injury break and Mundy is 37 in July so both of them will spend a little more time on the bench than Brodie. As Fyfe said the other day, it will take him 5 or 6 games to get back to 100% and their plan for him to be at that level for the back end of the season. Freo are well placed and have been excellently coached and managed by JL.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
His comments last night suggest that he is open to playing wherever. The circumstances have changed somewhat since he made that comment. The emergence of Will Brodie has changed everything. I still think he is best as a midfielder and that is where he will primarily play, but I think we will see a hybrid mid/forward role.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
I think he's still first and foremost a midifelder and the next few weeks will be about slowly transitioning him into a midfield that's working. I think he'll start on the bench and slowly work his way to more and more CBA's and the one that may end up having slightly less CBA's will be Mundy. I think Brodie, Brayshaw and Serong are the three that'll pretty much play permanent mid with Fyfe and Mundy transitioning between Mids and forwards. He's still well and truly our best player (although Brayshaw is a close second) and should be played where he is best. It's just a matter of getting some match fitness back into him. The forward line looks more settled with Logue up there as the second/third medium tall, and the likes of Frederick, Switkowski and one of Schultz, Walters or Banfield.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
But Minz is correct; he has made so many comments since then that are far more relevant. Our forward line is functioning well, though, and only going to be enriched as Logue plays up there more, as Tabs returns and as Sonny and Switta return. At Peel, Sturt and Treacy are waiting for their chances. Fyfe is not needed there. His attack comes from streaming through the middle delivering it, which he does with great efficiency. The midfield is where he is needed.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
The point of that quote was to show that Fyfe sees himself as a midfielder, even if he knows that it may not be best fit for the team Up to the coaching staff after all
Minz
Guest
You've missed all of Fyfe's recent interviews, which have been along the lines of "geez, the team's going well, I'll fit in with that, and lol, that old statement about no more forward was probably inaccurate!". Weird that the writer'd use a quote from pre-season and not note that things have changed since then, but whatever spin they want to put on it I guess.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Yet, you seem to be making time...and wasting it by embarrassing yourself.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
"You are a lost man on this one." You're the one who resorted to a 'p1g-headed' comment. I don't have time for this, Don. Have a nice day.