Fremantle star Nathan Fyfe is refreshed physically and mentally and ready to attack the 2023 season.
Fyfe has spent the off-season overseas and while coach Justin Longmuir admits he’s a little behind the group in pre-season training so far, the two-time Brownlow Medallist is in much better shape coming off a year ravaged by injuries.
“The most important thing is his body is in really good order. I feel like he’s refreshed having been able to get away and have that mental break,” Longmuir told SEN WA Mornings.
“Last season was really tough on him. It wasn’t just one injury that was keeping him out, it was multiple injuries and that can become really frustrating.
“He’s in good spirits. He’s probably a little bit behind the main playing group just in terms of the injuries he had last year.
“He’s mixing his time between doing some skills work and getting in some drills, but also getting that fitness base behind him.
“He’s attacking pre-season really well and he seems really engaged and really keen to make a sizeable contribution next year.”
Longmuir says Fyfe will continue to be used in the forward line, but will rotate through the midfield when required.
“I think he’ll split the role (mid and forward) and that’s been our mindset for the last couple of years before injuries have sort of changed our mind there,” Longmuir added.
“We’ll need him up forward this year. Just with his size and leadership and his ability to hit scoreboard.
“He’s going to be really important for us and he is really keen to improve that side of his game.
“But we can’t lose someone of his ability to the midfield. There will be times when we need him in there as well. We’ll continue to get him up to scratch in both areas.”
Longmuir added that the club will take its time to decide whether Fyfe is the right man to captain the Dockers again in 2023.
“Everyone is a candidate and we’ll go through the usual processes we’ve done the last few years,” the coach said.
“We’ll leave it to late January or early February and do some work and make it really clear the way we see leadership in the organisation.
“The players get a good look at that and a good look at who’s leading the way they want to vote for.
“Like all years we’ll go through a voting process and see how it flushes out.”