A new approach from Nat Fyfe could hold key to Fremantle’s 2024 after strong pre-season hit-out against West Coast

There were positive signs from Nat Fyfe in the pre-season derby against West Coast, employing a slightly altered approach, while the Eagles still have many injury issues to address, writes MARK DUFFIELD.

Nat Fyfe was hard at the ball and impressed in the pre-season trial against West Coast. Picture: Fremantle Football Club

Get it, give it and stay fit.

These are the words that hold the key to dual Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe’s 2024 season.

Those words might also hold the key to Fremantle returning to finals.

Fyfe produced a powerful first half against West Coast in the pre-season derby at Mineral Resources Park. It was a half that produced just a few kicks but plenty of handballs as he used his big frame to muscle opponents out of the way in traffic. It established a lead West Coast could not haul in over four quarters.

A cool Nat Fyfe with Alex Pearce prior to the practice match. Pictures: Will Russell/Getty Images

He was responsible for at least two first term score assists – including a goal to Sam Switkowski. And he was responsible for the start of plenty of other passages of play that worked for Freo when hard won balls were fed to teammates who had the confidence to hold their width from the contest and back Fyfe to win it.

It didn’t work when Fyfe tried to bludgeon his way through tackles. He is no longer quick enough to do that and was taken down more than once, setting up turnovers and chances for the Eagles.

The other key takeaway from this match? West Coast still can’t shake the injury malaise that has dogged them for two and a half seasons.

Ruckman Matt Flynn suffered a hamstring tendon injury in the captain’s run on the eve of the match and the ruck structure – and the forward line structure with it that the Eagles had planned for all pre-season, was thrown into disarray.

Matt Flynn was a late withdrawal at the captain’s run with the Eagles unable to form a ruck structure against opposition after intra-club trials. Picture: James Worsfold/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Liam Ryan, Jack Darling, Don Sheed, recruit Tyler Brockman and Jeremy McGovern were among the absentees, injured, from this game. And young defender Brady Hough was being treated on the boundary line late in the fourth period for a right leg injury.

And so the early season reshuffle began. Bailey Williams was relocated from the forward line into the ruck. Callum Jamieson, who might have been a ruck option, had been thrown into defence to cover the loss of the sore McGovern.

Round one is still three weeks away and the Eagles are plugging holes again.

Elliot Yeo did give them some grunt and power around stoppage. Andrew Gaff was steady on a wing and Jayden Hunt added some dash from defence.

But it became a tough introduction for number one draft pick Harley Reid who was trading weight with Fyfe at a lot of first half stoppages.

Harley Reid of the Eagles jogs off the ground after a heavy knock in the practice match. Picture: Will Russell/Getty Images

Reid had a handful of nice touches but he was chasing Fremantle bodies for much of his first match in West Coast colours.

Reid’s first touch was a nondescript handball that put a teammate in trouble, but his second was a well directed kick from defence to the wing as he started to settle. He had mixed moments after that but a couple of times wanted more time than the AFL is likely to allow him. He was caught holding the ball by Fremantle’s own draftee Cooper Simpson which gave Simpson his first goal in Fremantle colours.

Fremantle has the big bodied midfield they lacked in 2023. Fyfe and Hayden Young are rolling through there. Matt Johnson took a turn in there and Andrew Brayshaw was able to spend time on the wing as a result.

And even when Fyfe, Young and Johnson came out of the game along with Caleb Serong at the half and three quarter breaks, Fremantle were still rolling impressive youngster Neil Erasmus and Will Brodie through the middle with Jaeger O’Meara in reserve as the Dockers steadily building their lead which became a 14.14 (98) to 5.16 (46) thumping after the first four quarters.

The Dockers have depth.

And the Eagles don’t. They have kids like Reid and Noah Long and Reuben Ginbey – another casualty from the game after a second quarter clash of heads trying to tackle Luke Jackson.

Reuben Ginbey will take no further part in today's game.

Ginbey has entered the AFL's concussion protocols. pic.twitter.com/zFg5pIfxI6

— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) February 24, 2024

A question mark remains about the Dockers it is their ability to turn possession into scores. For all the power on display midfield in the opening half, the half time lead was still just 15 points. Forwards Luke Jackson and Jye Amiss didn’t impact the game until after half time.

And they missed Lachie Schultz pressure. Michael Frederick’s finishing is impressive. It was his square up kick to Josh Treacy that gave Fremantle their fifth goal.

And he added the sixth himself – an impressive set shot from fifty metres after a strong lead to Michael Walters.

But a bloke who should be mowing down three or four opponents a game because of his blistering pace also fell off tackles three times before half time – most notably when he should have had Yeo and Ginbey cold from the blind side.

The Dockers remain a work in progress. West Coast have an enormous amount of work to do and the work gets harder with every injury.

Originally published as A new approach from Nat Fyfe could hold key to Fremantle’s 2024 after strong pre-season hit-out against West Coast