While he’s definitely not getting any younger, a shoulder infection combined with a new schoolboy haircut has Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe resembling the scrawny teenager who debuted back in 2010.
That day at Subiaco Oval saw an 18-year-old Fyfe gather 13 touches and three contested marks, his raw talent and football nous on full display, along with another trait of his time at the Dockers as he finished with 1.4 in the win over Richmond.
Nat Fyfe on debut in 2010 (left), during pre-season this year and on the training track this week.
Weighing almost 20 kilograms less than his 2021 playing weight of 92 kilograms, Fyfe still lit up the stadium with a scintillating display across wing and half-forward, with a similar role early in season 2022 on the cards after the 30-year-old suffered a shoulder injury and subsequent infection this pre-season.
The dual blow has left the captain with little movement in his shoulder and complicated any chance of bulking up in the gym ahead of a season where Fremantle are expected to charge up the ladder.
Fyfe was on the training track this week as Fremantle’s first to fourth-year players began pre-season but was limited in his movement, marking with one hand and mostly jogging laps.
Coach Justin Longmuir expected the dual-Brownlow medallist to resume training in February and be fit for the start of the AFL season after he had to be administered intravenous antibiotics in hospital for three weeks to treat the infection.
Nat Fyfe during his first Brownlow Medal winning season in 2015.
Fyfe underwent season-ending reconstructive surgery in late July but required another operation after.
“It’s going to be a bit of a long slow process ... all is not lost because he has a pretty good bank of work under his belt, so we expect him to come up to the mark pretty quick,” Longmuir said.
The Dockers on Friday unveiled Hayley Miller as its new AFLW captain ahead of the club’s first match against Adelaide at Fremantle Oval on January 8.
Miller has replaced inaugural captain Kara Antonio, who stood down from the role after five seasons.
“I want to show the girls on field, off field what being a leader’s all about what we stand for as a club,” she said on Friday.
“I’m lucky to still have her [Kara] by my side, as she’s been a massive support for me through the last six in general, not just leadership but on and off the field and as a mentor.”
Sheppard signals AFL exit
Meanwhile, West Coast All-Australian Brad Sheppard is expected to announce his retirement from AFL on Monday due to ongoing concussion issues.
Eagles defender Brad Sheppard sustained two concussions in 2021.Credit: Getty Images
The 30-year-old, who has played 216 games for the Eagles and suffered two concussions last season, was named the club’s player of the finals in 2015 but missed the 2018 premiership due to a hamstring injury in the qualifying final.