Mitchell Woodcock: Why it would be foolish to write off Fremantle star Nat Fyfe in 2025 AFL season

A word of warning to the football community — write Nat Fyfe off at your own risk. Knee surgery over the pre-season, the acquisition of Shai Bolton and the growth in several young players has meant the spotlight hasn’t been on the dual Brownlow medallist as much as in previous years. As we track towards round one the debate over what impact the 33-year-old midfield bull will have in 2025 will surely ramp up. It would be a brave person to say that Fyfe can’t have at least one last say in the fortunes of the Dockers before his illustrious career comes to an end. Fyfe will start this season underdone, but still vital to the midfield mix of Fremantle and how they go against some of the better sides. While he will never go back to the incredible player he was in his heyday, his strength in the contest and leadership is still going to be needed as the Dockers face high expectations. It’s easy to forget that Fyfe played 22 games last year — the most he has played since 2013 — and was in the top four for clearances and contested possessions at Fremantle. The likelihood of him playing a full season at the centre bounce is diminished, but in the big games Fyfe can still be the guy that grabs the bull by the horns and shifts the tide. You only have to look at the performance against the Western Bulldogs in round seven of last year when he had 37 touches, seven clearances and a goal. If the Dockers can find a way to use Fyfe as an impact player in 2025 while managing him through to ensure he is there for the big games it will go a long way to their top-four and premiership ambitions. There will be games he will start as the sub, be subbed out and road trips where he might not even play at all. Yet there will be times when he can turn back the clock, even if it is just for moments or quarters, and it could be telling come September. It will ease the pressure on the likes of Hayden Young, Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong, while also lay down the challenge to the likes of Neil Erasmus, Matt Johnson and Nathan O’Driscoll who are yet to firmly establish themselves in the team. An illusive premiership would be the fairytale end to Fyfe’s career but don’t think that he is going to be carried to the holy grail. If we’ve learnt anything over the 15 years we’ve watched the boy from Lake Grace’s play in the purple it’s that he has the mental strength to push himself to another level and he leaves nothing out on the ground.