The Fremantle Football Club today celebrates the exceptional career of Club legend and dual Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe, after he announced that he will retire from football at the conclusion of Fremantle’s AFL season.
Fyfe will end his illustrious career after 16 seasons and heads into Friday night’s clash with Brisbane poised on 245 games.
With the remainder of the season and a potential finals campaign to come, Fyfe will finish as one of Fremantle’s most decorated players.
Inducted as a Fremantle Life Member in 2018, Fyfe has kicked 178 goals, won two Brownlow Medals (2015, 2019), three Doig Medals (2013, 2014, 2019) and earned three All-Australian jackets (2014, 2015, 2019), including one as captain in 2019. He was also voted the AFLPA’s MVP twice by his peers (2014, 2015).
Reflecting on a special career, Fyfe said:
“Retiring has been a conversation that has been ongoing for probably the last 12 months with my family, my partner Bridget, my close circle, JL (Justin Longmuir), Joe Brierty and Simon Garlick,” Fyfe said.
“It just feels like it’s the right time.
“I’m just immensely grateful for what my AFL experience and playing with Fremantle has given to me.
“It’s been an enormous opportunity and has taken me to places I could never have dreamed of.
“Knowing this is the end of my career, I leave with a sense of understanding that I don’t need anything further, which is a really peaceful place to be, and yet myself - and the team - still find ourselves in a position where that elusive premiership dream is well and truly alive.”
Raised in the WA Wheatbelt town of Lake Grace, Fyfe boarded at Aquinas College in Perth and was drafted from WAFL club Claremont with pick No. 20 in the 2009 AFL National Draft. Months earlier, he had represented the WA Under-18s and kicked six goals for the Tigers in the Colts Grand Final.
Fyfe became the 150th player to represent Fremantle when he debuted in the Club’s Len Hall Tribute Game against Richmond in 2010.
A prolific ball-winner with outstanding aerial prowess, Fyfe made history in 2015 by becoming the first Fremantle player to win the Brownlow Medal, polling a stunning 31 votes - ahead of West Coast’s Matt Priddis (28) and Hawthorn’s Sam Mitchell (26).
The midfielder burst out of the blocks, amassing 17 votes in the first eight rounds of the season, breaking the previous record of 15 set by two-time Brownlow Medallist Chris Judd.
Also in 2015, Fyfe became only the second player of all-time to miss four games in a season and go on to win the Brownlow Medal. He polled the maximum three votes on nine occasions, equalling Greg Williams’ then-record from 1994, on his way to breaking 30 votes for the first time in his career. Earlier that month, Fyfe was also named the AFLPA Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row.
Fast forward four years to 2019 and Fyfe again made headlines, becoming just the 15th player in AFL history to win multiple Brownlow Medals, polling 33 votes from 20 games.
At the time, it meant Fyfe had polled more votes than games played in his career, a feat only achieved by three-time medallist Haydn Bunton Sr.
“I’m enormously grateful for all the support I’ve been given by Fremantle people across the journey,” Fyfe said.
“They embraced me as a skinny kid, watched me rise through the ranks and supported me through that, and then over the last couple of years it’s taken on a different quality for me.
“As I struggled with injury and adversity, the unconditional support and love from the Fremantle community, supporters and members, willing me on, whether that was just coming up to me in the street, writing to me or just cheering when I got the footy on the ground means a lot.
“I’ll always be a Fremantle person and I’ll be eternally grateful for the support I’ve received from the Freo family.”
The only member of Fremantle’s 2013 Grand Final side still in action, it’s fitting that Fyfe will dedicate his final season at the Club to driving teammates desperate to return to finals football.
Fremantle Executive General Manager of Football Joe Brierty said Fyfe’s career will forever be remembered as one of the Club’s greatest.
"Nat’s legacy at the Fremantle Football Club will live on forever,” Brierty said.
“What he has achieved over the span of his career, not only at an individual level but as a Club leader is something he should be immensely proud of,” Brierty said.
“When he arrived at the Club back in 2009 it was clear he had raw talent.
“Those early years saw a dedicated pursuit of excellence that would enable him to reach great heights in our game.
“With his decision to retire at the conclusion of our 2025 campaign, we know he will leave no stone unturned to make the most out of every moment left.”
#foreverfyfe
Nat Fyfe career honours
Brownlow Medal: 2015, 2019
Doig Medal: 2013, 2014, 2019
Fremantle Dockers Captain: 2017 – 2022
All Australian: 2014, 2015, 2019
All Australian captain: 2019
AFLPA Most Valuable Player: 2014, 2015
Fremantle Dockers Life Member: 2018
Fremantle Players' Award: 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019
AFLPA 22under22: 2013
