Analysis: Nat Fyfe could miss rest of season with foot stress fracture, leaving Fremantle short in the midfield

A thin midfield rotation just got even thinner. But Nat Fyfe’s latest devastating setback could prove a blessing in disguise for Fremantle writes ELIZA REILLY.

A confirmed stress fracture in Nat Fyfe’s foot could prove a serious problem for Fremantle’s finals chances. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

A thin midfield rotation just got even thinner.

After being subbed out of Saturday’s loss to the Western Bulldogs, scans have revealed a fresh injury for Nat Fyfe. The Fremantle midfielder had been playing through plantar fasciitis in his left foot. But that has since evolved into a stress fracture.

Only a podiatrist can say if or how the two are related but one thing is clear – there’s a decent probability we’ve seen the last of Fyfe this season.

“Unfortunately, Nat has sustained a stress fracture. It’s the same foot he has been dealing with all year,” Fremantle High Performance Manager Phil Merriman said.

“We have now put him in a boot, so he is going into a period of de-load. We are going to see how his foot is after this period of de-load and we are hopeful that we will see him again this season.”

Fyfe was subbed out of the Dockers loss to the Bulldogs last Friday. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The implications of Fyfe’s latest setback are far reaching. The former skipper has been more steady than spectacular after returning from a six week stint on the sidelines. But his influence across the past eight weeks can’t be undersold.

In the short term, Fremantle have one less mature body to turn to at stoppages. You don’t need to look any further than Saturday afternoon to realise what that means for the Dockers.

Fremantle had taken the lead back against the Bulldogs early in the fourth quarter. Then the ball went back to the middle. Sean Darcy, Neil Erasmus, Matthew Johnson and Andrew Brayshaw lined up against Tim English, Tom Liberatore, Marcus Bontempelli and Adam Treloar. The Bulldogs won the clearance and got back in front.

Then it was Darcy, Brayshaw, Johnson and Erasmus against Lobb, Jack Macrae, Bontempelli and Liberatore. One new face, same result. The same four for the Bulldogs then won a third straight clearance against Josh Treacy, Caleb Serong, Jaeger O‘Meara and Johnson. Even though Fyfe was clearly in pain, just the presence of his AFL hardened frame to bump and block could’ve been enough to stop the onslaught.

Fyfe’s impact at the Dockers has been significant since his return from injury early in 2023. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Fyfe isn’t the prolific and supremely athletic two-time Brownlow medallist we once knew. He admitted that much a couple months ago after returning from injury. But the extra midfield rotation he’s given Fremantle in the past eight weeks has been vitally important.

Based on a very limited sample size, Fyfe is ranked above average in the AFL for contested possessions per game (7.6 average), clearances (2.7) and centre clearances (1.2). And if he’s not winning the footy, he’s clearing the path for his teammates to.

Originally, Fyfe wasn’t even supposed to play midfield this season. But coach Justin Longmuir was forced to backflip out of necessity.

When the Dockers traded for O’Meara in place of the retired David Mundy, they thought they were coming out square. Mundy, a modern football marvel, was starting to struggle defensively. O’Meara isn’t fast but he had a few years on Mundy and therefore, more upside.

O'Meara takes on Marcus Bontempelli in the Dockers Round 16 loss. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The mistake Fremantle made was thinking O’Meara and Will Brodie could play in the same team. The five times they have this season, the Dockers have lost four games and won one. And that sole win was over Gold Coast when Brodie came on late as the tactical sub.

In reality, O’Meara has replaced Brodie and the Dockers are minus Mundy. O’Meara is a nice piece of the puzzle. But he doesn’t have the same connection with Fremantle’s forwards that Mundy did.

With Fyfe out, O’Meara is now Fremantle’s most experienced midfielder. Serong and Brayshaw are their best but are still at a stage of their careers where they need support. At the bottom end of the depth puzzle, the Dockers need to get 2021 draft picks Erasmus and Johnson to a point where they don’t lose any power when one or both are in the middle. Right now, they’re not there.

In the long term, Fyfe’s injury could prove a blessing in disguise. The door is now open for Erasmus particularly to start in the best 22 for the rest of the season and earn his stripes. The 19-year-old has played a midfield-forward role at the lower level and the opportunity for him to gain exposure at the top level is there for the taking.

Scans have revealed a stress fracture in Nat Fyfe's left foot 😢

Get all the details below.#foreverfreo

— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) July 3, 2023

Brodie could be some hope of earning a recall after finishing with 20 disposals in Peel Thunder’s win over South Fremantle. The Dockers could also use James Aish in an inside midfield role and reinstate wingman Nathan O’Driscoll. But the reality is Fremantle face an uphill battle to make finals this season and there’s not going to be many opportunities like this to expose Johnson and Erasmus if you believe the Dockers’ will bounce back into top four contention next year.

Fremantle’s midfield rotation was light on even before Fyfe got injured. It’s how they ended up with kids vs. grown-ups when it mattered against the Bulldogs.

But kids grow up eventually. Sometimes all they need is an unexpected opportunity.

Originally published as Analysis: Nat Fyfe could miss rest of season with foot stress fracture, leaving Fremantle short in the midfield