Doig Medal winner Nat Fyfe feels he’s ‘cracked the code’ in how to consistently deliver his best football
8:30pm Oct 5, 2019
Nat Fyfe had every reason to wake up feeling on top of the world on Tuesday morning
4:51pm Sep 24, 2019
9:11am Oct 3, 2019
1:55pm Sep 24, 2019
8:00am Sep 24, 2019
Junior clubs: Aquinas College, Lake Grace (WA)
Recruited from: Claremont (WA)
Draft information: National Draft 2009 - pick 20
Debut: Round 5 2010 v Richmond
AFL clubs: Fremantle
Career Brownlow votes: 174
2018 SUMMARY
The Fremantle captain was in career-best form at the start of the season, playing a match-winning hand in a number of the club’s early wins. This included a career-best 43 disposals against the Western Bulldogs and 14 clearances against Gold Coast. In his 150th game, Fyfe earned a goal of the year nomination for his crafty snap against the Blues. A hamstring injury in Fremantle’s clash against Brisbane saw Fyfe spend six weeks on the sidelines.
In his return to football from a broken leg, Fyfe was quick to get back to his best with an especially strong finish to the season. The Fremantle captain took his contested ball-winning ability to another level late in the season, averaging 16.4 contested possessions and 2.4 contested marks per game after the bye.
Fyfe’s highly anticipated season was sadly cut short in round 5, when the reigning Brownlow Medallist fractured his left leg against Carlton. A week prior, Fyfe was best on ground against North Melbourne.
Fyfe soared to new heights in 2015, capping off another sensational season by winning the Brownlow Medal, his second AFL Players' Association MVP award and another All Australian selection in the midfield. He has laid claim to arguably being one of the best players in the modern era.
Fyfe’s star continued to shine in 2014, with a sensational season rewarded with the AFL Players’ Association MVP award, All Australian selection in the midfield and a second Doig Medal. He is now firmly established as one of the best players in the AFL.
The brilliant midfielder took another step towards stardom. Pleasingly for Fyfe, the shoulder issues of 2012 did not hamper him. Set for a big 2014.
Nat Fyfe’s year was blighted by a shoulder injury that forced him to miss round 4, and then rounds 6-17 following surgery.
Upon his return in round 18, the brilliant midfielder showed how good he was with a best-on-ground 26-possession effort against Port.
Fyfe still polled the second-most Brownlow Medal votes (14) at Freo despite playing only nine games in the home and away season – two of which were compromised because of his shoulder.
On a per game basis, Fyfe was clearly Fremantle’s best contested possession winner (12.5), which was also 14th overall in the AFL.
If there’s an area of his game Fyfe could improve, it’s his disposal efficiency, which was at 56.4 per cent in 2012 – well below what the AFL’s elite midfielder’s average. In particular, his kicking efficiency of 49 per cent must get better considering the best midfielders average in the 70s.
Nonetheless, Fyfe is a budding superstar of this competition and crucial to Fremantle’s hopes of a return to the finals.
Charity partner ambassador: Diabetes WA
The 20-year-old had a sensational second season of AFL, finishing a close second to Matthew Pavlich in the Doig Medal. He featured in the top five in almost every key performance indicator category at Fremantle in 2011. The gun from Lake Grace topped the club in disposals per game (25.1), total disposals (527), contested possessions (262), hard ball gets (107), total effective handballs (186), contested marks (43), smothers (19) and Dream Team points (98.4 per game). He is one of the most exciting prospects in the competition but he will be targeted by the opposition in 2012. But this youngster has all the tools required to beat the extra attention and help Freo return to finals action.
Fyfe made his debut in the round 5 Len Hall Game against Richmond and announced his arrival in the AFL with a soaring pack mark. A week later he was nominated for Goal of the Week after a brilliant snap against West Coast. The exciting mid-sized forward earned a NAB Rising Star nomination after gathering 23 disposals in Fremantle’s win over the Sydney Swans at the SCG. A bright future looms for the Lake Grace youngster.
50 games: Semi Final, 2012 v Adelaide
100 games: Round 8, 2015 v North Melbourne
150 games: Round 13, 2018 v Carlton
Fremantle Dockers Life Membership
Inducted in 2018
Doig Medal
2013, 2014, 2019
Player of the Finals
2013
Players' Award
2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019
Brownlow Medal
2015, 2019
All Australian
2014, 2015
AFL Players' Association Most Valuable Player
2014, 2015
AFL Players' Association 22Under22 Team
2013
AFL Coaches Association Best Young Player
2011
Nickname: Fyfey
Best set shot at your club? David Mundy
My coach often says … I’m an evangelist and you are my cult followers
Best advice you’ve received? Don’t invest in crypto currency
Least-preferred teammate on road trips and why? Lee Spurr, he chews your ear off the whole trip
Greatest footy moment before the AFL? Winning premiership for Lake Grace Bombers in year 7
Funniest teammate? Brad Hill and Luke Ryan
Which teammates pick themselves in AFL Fantasy? Griffin Logue, rates himself
If you could enter a teammate for My Kitchen Rules, who would it be and why? Alex Pearce, I lived with him and he’s genuinely a good cook
Favourite café AND what do you order? Moore and Moore, avocado and scrambled eggs on toast
Hidden talent? Rubik’s cube
Guilty pleasure? Gingernut biscuits
Most inspiring movie? 180 degrees South
Best concert attended? Alt-J
Passion outside of football? Study
Best trait? Competitive
Favourite movie character? Owen Wilson
Grand Final – day, twilight or night? We’re moving towards twilight I think
Bounce – yes or no? Yes
Favourite AFLW player? Amy Lavel
Most under rated AFL player? Matt de Boer
Team barracked or as a kid? Richmond
Three apps you cant live without? Spotify, torch app, calendar, youtube
Do you have any pets? No
Favourite holiday spot? Maldives
