Nat Fyfe is likely to spend the rest of his career in Fremantle after the two-time Brownlow Medallist penned a two-year extension with the only AFL club he’s ever known.
The 31-year-old has played 214 games at the club and said he couldn’t imagine “going to play footy anywhere else” after re-committing to the Dockers.
Fyfe’s deal ends months of speculation linking him away from Fremantle, despite his manager Jason Dover assuring fans the former captain was committed to extending his stay.
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The midfielder was drafted to the club in 2009 at pick 20 and will go down as one of the greatest to wear the purple jersey. He has won the club best and fairest award on three occasions and was the club captain between 2017 and 2022.
“I will be signing with the club for a further two years and I’m really excited about what the next few years can bring,” Fyfe said on the club website.
“I was never going to play footy anywhere else.”
After enjoying success early on in his career, including a grand final appearance in 2013, Fyfe has spent his prime years on the outside of the top eight looking in, with the Dockers only making it back into the finals last year after a six-year hiatus.
“It’s been an interesting previous contract for me, where we basically went through a complete list turnover and rebuild,” he said.
“I haven’t played finals since 2015 and I feel there’s been a lot of investment into the club and the club has invested in me.
“I like to play long games, I like payoffs in the end and I’m really hopeful that at the end of this there’s a really good story.”
This season, his 14th at the club, has seen him only play five games after a calf injury, while he also only managed seven matches in 2022.
In the round 11 win over Melbourne, Fyfe showed glimpses of a return to form with 20 disposals and 11 contested possessions.
The Dockers star said his rehabilitation from a plantar fascia injury has been slow but positive.
“It’s been a progressive build, playing a quarter, a half, three quarters and a full game. It’s a luxury we can do that with modern footy,” he said.
“Everything feels really good and I’ll be on track to play again against Richmond next week.
“I feel like I’ve got to catch up to speed and build some form and confidence in my roles, because I’m playing a midfield/forward mix.
“I’m enjoying being back out there in the cut and thrust of AFL footy again, and I’ve got a bunch of things I can work on now, continue to improve and hopefully at the back end of the year play some really good footy.”
Tied down until 2025, Fyfe said his aim is to go all the way before he retires.
“It’s every club’s goal, to try and win a premiership and for us to be part of the first premiership adds a little bit extra, I think,” he said.
“The last two years has been pretty challenging for me, but I feel the support from the fans has only grown for me and for the club.
“I would never have played footy anywhere else other than here and I’m hopeful (the fans) can be part of a pretty special couple of years coming up for our club.”
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