Fremantle star Nat Fyfe has stepped down as captain of the Dockers

Fremantle’s three-time best and fairest winner has told teammates he will step down as captain, revealing the reason behind his big decision.

Nat Fyfe has made the ‘tough” decision to stand aside as captain after six seasons in the role and a challenging 2022 season cruelled by injury.

The dual Brownlow medallist only played seven games last season and after 14 and 15 in the two previous seasons and although he’s “letting go of a dream” made his decision in the best interests of the club.

“The decision was tough. It has been something I’ve known for the last three or four weeks,” Fyfe said as he told his teammates on Tuesday.

“Last year was a challenging year for me individually, but a great year for the club and it started to pave the way for a transition.

Nat Fyfe informed teammates today that he will stand aside as captain and from any formal leadership duties.

After six years in the role, Fyfe is our second-longest serving captain.

Thanks, Nat 💜 #foreverfreo

— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) February 7, 2023

“Intuitively, I knew that it was an exciting opportunity for the club for me to step aside and let someone else come through.”

The decision had nagged at Fyfe for a while as he struggled to let go of the role, he said.

“It took a while for the emotions and my mind to line up with my intuition, it feels like I was letting go of a dream in some ways, but once I connected with that feeling, it opens up the possibility for so much more,” he said.

“I‘m optimistic about what this transition can do for the club.”

A leadership group member since 2015, the 209-gamer has also made the call to step aside from all leadership group duties.

Young star Andrew Brayshaw will be one of the favourites to succeed Fyfe as Fremantle captain. Picture: Getty Images

“By stepping away completely from the leadership group that allows me to focus all my energy on helping our other forwards and learning my craft again,” Fyfe said.

“It also allows someone else to step into the leadership group potentially and give us that fresh push of leadership which will propel us forward.”

Key defender Alex Pearce stood in as captain in Fyfe’s absence during 2022, with the 27-year-old a frontrunner for the vacant role. Picture: Getty Images

Fyfe captained Fremantle for seven games in 2022, with Alex Pearce standing in as captain for 16 games and Mundy for one as a part of a leadership group that also included Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong.

Fyfe had the second longest tenure as captain in Fremantle’s history, and was third by games in charge (96) behind club legends Matthew Pavlich (190) and Peter Bell (107).

Fremantle’s captain and leadership group will be finalised later this month.

Originally published as Fremantle star Nat Fyfe has stepped down as captain of the Dockers