Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe has made the decision to return from injury to the Peel Thunder on Saturday more than a decade after his last WAFL appearance.
Fyfe met with the Fremantle hierarchy on Tuesday after training where it was decided he would avoid the temptation of an immediate return from the AFL in a clash between the top four against Brisbane and former teammate Lachie No Sunday.
Instead, Fyfe will make his first appearance in the WAFL since 2010 and his first in Peel after making his Claremont debut 12 years ago.
Camera icon Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe has decided where he will play this weekend. Credit: Iain Gillespie / The West Australian
The Lions will host Peel at 2:10 p.m. for the seventh-round clash that threatens Nic Naitanui’s comeback from a second knee reconstruction in 2019 as one of the most anticipated WAFL games in recent memory.
The two-time Brownlow medalist has not appeared at the AFL level since the 19th round last year, spending more than 300 days on the sidelines overcoming shoulder and back surgeries.
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said the 30-year-old was happy with the decision and gave him the best chance to build an AFL return.
“It was his idea to be honest. He knows his body better than anyone and knows his confidence,” Longmuir told 7News.
“He thinks this is the right step for him to have a big crack in the second half of the year. We listened to him a lot.
Camera iconNat Fyfe in training on Tuesday. Credit: Iain Gillespie / The West Australian
“We will play him for about 90 minutes, which is a good progression for him. I won’t say too much about his position and what positions he will play, but he will play a role that will allow him to adapt to the AFL and I think it is very important that he comes back and achieves something. confidence in your body and your game.
“We want to make sure we build it the right way to make a big impact on the AFL in the second half of the season and we think that makes it better.”
Longmuir said Fyfe could pass just one WAFL-level game before returning to Hawthorn in round 13, the week before Fremantle’s mid-season farewell.
“We haven’t made a call in that regard, but that would probably be the best progression,” he said.
“If he feels out of the game and feels very confident and has received the blows and his fitness is at a good level, we will be guided by him next week.”
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Fyfe’s return could not have come at a better time with his third-ranked Dockers on the AFL scale and reaffirming himself for his first appearance in the final since 2015 after competing for an 8- start. 3, including a season-defining victory over Melbourne’s current Prime Minister at the MCG. last Saturday.
Matt Taberner has the opportunity to play against Brisbane despite being replaced by Fremantle’s win over Melbourne due to spasms in his back.
While the Dockers have shut down rookie winger Karl Worner until the end of 2023 after the 19-year-old signed a one-year contract extension.