Mega Thread 2024 Media & Miscellaneous Thread
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wakojako
Norm Smith Medallist
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The best compliment we could ever receive is none.
DRAGONS FFC - Moderator
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They'll never see us coming...
Snuffaluphagus
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After crying on the final siren, I would burst into tears again seeing Fyfe hold the cup or get his Norm around his neck.
I'll be pretty happy just to see him playing finals again, 22 must have killed him deep down
I'll be pretty happy just to see him playing finals again, 22 must have killed him deep down
Snuffaluphagus
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Some interesting stuff from Cal (who still remains basically the only Vic journo who has anything interesting or useful to say).
I'm growing in hope that the changes to bidding and the overall system might actually be comprehensive and decent and I didnt realise F/S kids were negotiating deals before getting drafted, that feels like a rort but I suppose it at least benefits the players
www.afl.com.au
I'm growing in hope that the changes to bidding and the overall system might actually be comprehensive and decent and I didnt realise F/S kids were negotiating deals before getting drafted, that feels like a rort but I suppose it at least benefits the players
Rivals watch Saint, free agency switch floated, Hawk's trigger
Check out all the latest trade news from around the League
www.afl.com.au
F/S were still subject to the original 2 year deals though, so there was no massive rort there, just security (which the club could have promised them anyway)Some interesting stuff from Cal (who still remains basically the only Vic journo who has anything interesting or useful to say).
I'm growing in hope that the changes to bidding and the overall system might actually be comprehensive and decent and I didnt realise F/S kids were negotiating deals before getting drafted, that feels like a rort but I suppose it at least benefits the players
Rivals watch Saint, free agency switch floated, Hawk's trigger
Check out all the latest trade news from around the League
Daicos renegotiated his anyway as he would've been well underpaid this year if he stayed on that deal
Snuffaluphagus
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Yeah but what I get from that is F/S's were not nominating clubs until they have locked in longer deals before getting drafted. Doesnt mean much, but it is a bit icky when other kids dont get that chance. Just another little bit of nepotism basically
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Taylor
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Tom Mitchell secured a four year deal at Sydney in order to nominate as a father son pick, matching a bid from Fremantle with their next available pick which was #21
They then turned him into pick #14 end of 2016
Sydney traded #14 and #17 for #9 and #19 which ended up being Florent and Hayward.
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How the addition of Hayden Young and return of Nat Fyfe has remoulded Fremantle’s midfield
Bullied, bruised and bashed, the Dockers midfield was criminally inconsistent last year. But 2024 is a different story. ELIZA REILLY reveals how Freo has rebuilt its midfield to become one of the AFL’s most formidable.7 min read
May 2, 2024 - 8:00AM
Ask any AFL coach where the game will be won on any given weekend and their answer is almost always the same.
The midfield.
Fremantle learnt that lesson first-hand last season.
Bullied, bruised and bashed by the AFL’s most experienced on-ball divisions, the Dockers were criminally inconsistent.
Fremantle lived and died by the sword. A win would mean their midfield functioned. While a loss was intrinsically linked to what happened at stoppages.
This season has been a different story.
The return of Nat Fyfe and the addition of Hayden Young has given Fremantle’s midfield a new identity. Coupled with the continued form of Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw, the Dockers are suddenly formidable.
This is how they’ve done it.
RETURN OF THE KNIFE
Nat Fyfe has been a shadow of himself in the last few seasons but has dominated for Fremantle this year. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
Nat Fyfe joked during his 2019 Brownlow Medal acceptance speech that teammates Darcy Tucker and Reece Conca deserved just as much recognition for their unheralded role in his success.
“To Darcy and Reece, thanks very much for the selfless roles you played so much, and the texts I get from Concs before a game saying ‘you get after the pill and I’ll cover your man,’” Fyfe said on stage at Crown Palladium after accepting the game’s highest individual honour for a second time.
Yet in the ultimate twist of fate, if one of Caleb Serong or Andrew Brayshaw wins the Brownlow this year, Fyfe will be the man they thank.
In a remarkable career resurgence, the 32-year-old has transformed into a key defensive pillar of Fremantle’s firing midfield.
Fyfe’s former coach Ross Lyon declared in 2020 that “there is no better offensive player and ball hunter in the competition.”
NAT FYFE
| DISPOSALS | CONTESTED POSSESSIONS | HANDBALLS | CLEARANCES | GROUNDBALL GETS | |
| 2024 averages | 23.9 (above average) | 12.1 (above average) | 15.6 (elite) | 6.6 (elite) | 7.3 (above average) |
The Dockers have spent the last two seasons flirting with Fyfe as a forward to make room for its emerging on-ballers, a pursuit that was put on hold due to a cruel run of injury.
This year, Fyfe has finally returned to the midfield but as a markedly different player.
“Fyfey has come back in and has dominated inside the contest,” Andrew Brayshaw said this week. “The ability of Hayden and Fyfey to run that defensive pattern allows people like Caleb, myself and Matt Johnson to get forward hard and really try and test out the opposition midfielders.
“Both of those guys crack in really hard but then also have a really good defensive role from there.
“The physical presence, you could sort of just feel it. He was imposing himself on the contest.”
What made Fyfe so effective at the peak of his powers was his contested ball-winning ability, an attacking trait that offset his average defensive running. With a full pre-season under his belt, Fyfe has rounded out his game and is now able to work back into defence and win more ball in transition.
Nat Fyfe speaks to Caleb Serong at Optus Stadium. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
That culminated in a vintage 37-disposal game against the Western Bulldogs, not that any of his teammates were surprised.
“It feels like he’s not going out there each week trying to be the best player anymore,” Hayden Young said. “He’s just trying to play his role for the team.
“On the weekend, he just happened to get on the end of a lot. But it’s not a result of chasing that feeling.
“He’s been really consistent with his preparation throughout the week. He’s been really balanced with the way he approaches games.”
Fyfe hasn’t lost the traits that made him the best player in the game. He’s currently averaging 6.6 clearances a game which puts him among the elite midfielders in the competition.
But while the fate of Fremantle’s midfield would once rest on Fyfe’s shoulder, he’s now the glue holding it together.
“His communication is something that stands out,” Young, a new addition to the midfield this season, said. “He’s someone that leads in that aspect and makes sure we’re really organised.
“He’s really desperate and fights and scraps for the ball. When it’s his time to go, he impacts. They’re the two main things I’ve noticed.
“I feel like me and Nat add a bit of height and size to the midfield which is always of benefit. I feel like we all complement each other really well and that’s why we’re playing some good football.”
THE YOUNG BUCK GETS BETTER
Caleb Serong smiles after the win over the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
It was going to take something special from Caleb Serong to top his 2023 season.
Yet somehow, he’s tracking even better this year.
Fresh off his first All-Australian blazer and his first Doig Medal, Serong started the year as one of the AFL’s best midfielders.
Against the Bulldogs, Serong won 17 clearances, a Fremantle record. Since records began in 1998, that’s only been topped eight times, with Paul Salmon leading the way with 22.
In round one, the 23-year-old also broke the Dockers’ record for the most disposals in a game, racking up 46 against Brisbane. He beat the previous bar of 44, jointly held by Peter Bell and David Mundy.
CALEB SERONG
| DISPOSALS | EFFECTIVE DISPOSALS | CLEARANCES | CONTESTED POSSESSIONS | METRES GAINED | |
| 2024 averages | 32.6 (elite) | 23.7 (elite) | 8.9 (elite) | 15.9 (elite) | 399.3 (above average) |
The addition of Fyfe and Young to the midfield has freed up Serong to play to his strengths. And the opposition is suffering.
“He continues to go from strength to strength,” Young said. “It doesn’t surprise me because he’s the ultimate professional.
“It’s been great to watch up close. The best part about it is the addition of me and Nat hasn’t taken away his strengths. He’s a great ball winner and hunter.”
An AFL Rising Star back in 2020, the Dockers knew Serong was a special talent. Yet last year when Fremantle’s midfield was struggling, he was forced to bite off more than he could chew.
“Caleb probably did a lot of our heavy lifting last year inside,” Brayshaw said. “Fyfey has helped balance that out a bit.
“Blokes like myself, Caleb (Serong), Matt Johnson when he comes in, can be really aggressive and attacking when we can.”
THE EVOLUTION
Andrew Brayshaw’s tackling pressure has been phenomenal this season. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.
The big thing that sets Andrew Brayshaw apart from other midfielders is his tackling pressure.
It was what underpinned his 2022 season, a year where he was voted by his peers as the AFL’s Most Valuable Player. He also broke Fremantle’s record for the most tackles in a season.
It’s still not uncommon to see Brayshaw charging down an opposition player from behind. But now in his seventh season, the 24-year-old has evolved and unlocked a more attacking side to his game.
“That has allowed me to play potentially a bit more of an aggressive role going forward,” Brayshaw said of Fyfe’s return to the midfield. “It gives me a little bit of breathing room to be able to go on the outside as well which is nice.”
Brayshaw had 11 score involvements against the Bulldogs. He finished with 30 disposals, 22 of which were uncontested, four inside 50s and seven clearances.
ANDREW BRAYSHAW
| DISPOSALS | EFFECTIVE DISPOSALS | UNCONTESTED POSSESSIONS | SCORE INVOLVEMENT | METRES GAINED | |
| 2024 averages | 27.6 (elite) | 20.3 (elite) | 16.9 (above average) | 6.6 (above average) | 343.3 (above average) |
Making his form even more remarkable is the fact that Brayshaw has been dealing with the after-effects of a knock he suffered in round two.
He played down the significance of the niggle this week, declaring he was “over the hill.” But his teammates can’t believe his output in the face of adversity.
“He’s been outstanding from my perspective,” Young said. “The thing that’s been so impressive is he probably hasn’t been feeling physically 100 per cent for a lot of the season.
“He’s been dealing with a few things and hasn’t trained a lot. When you don’t train, it makes it a lot harder to perform.
“He rocks up and executes his role to the best of his ability while pushing his body to the limit, he gets to the end of the game and he can hardly run but you wouldn’t know that from watching.
“He’s been outstanding. Once his body starts recovering and he builds a bit more strength, I think he’s going to take off because he’s been working through a bit of adversity.”
THE NEWCOMERS
Hayden Young has become one of the newcomers who’s found his feet in Fremantle’s midfield. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.
It’s been a matter of new position, same approach for Dockers defender-turned-midfielder Hayden Young.
We got our first taste of Young, the onballer, late last season. Realising they lacked size, the Dockers deployed Young in the guts.
It was a rapid learning curve. In his first month, he played on two Brownlow medallists in Patrick Dangerfield and Lachie Neale. But he played with instinct and halved, if not won each battle.
This year, his switch has become permanent. And it’s given Fremantle’s midfield instant accountability.
“’Youngy’ has been playing more of a defensive-minded midfield role, either being accountable for someone at stoppage or being that last mid to leave the stoppage and having that defensive positioning,” Brayshaw said.
HAYDEN YOUNG
| DISPOSALS | UNCONTESTED POSSESSIONS | TACKLES | SCORE INVOLVEMENTS | METRES GAINED | |
| 2024 averages | 24.9 (above average) | 17.6 (elite) | 6.4 (elite) | 5.4 (above average) | 421.3 (above averages |
It’s simplified things for Young, who likened his pre-season to ‘going back to school.’
“I come from a backline background so I have more defensive aspects in my game,” Young said. “I’ve adapted my role to become a defensive mid.
“It suits the way we want to play. It allows Andy and Caleb who are really strong runners and hunters to do that whereas I can patrol the corridor and give more of a defensive layer.
“I’m still learning a lot and still making a lot of errors and I don’t think that will ever change. But I feel more comfortable out there and I feel like my head is a bit more clear.
“Having that defensive role helps with that because I know what my role is at stoppage and in transition. I’m starting to feel pretty confident out there and learning a lot and hopefully evolving.”
Nice article right there.How the addition of Hayden Young and return of Nat Fyfe has remoulded Fremantle’s midfield
Bullied, bruised and bashed, the Dockers midfield was criminally inconsistent last year. But 2024 is a different story. ELIZA REILLY reveals how Freo has rebuilt its midfield to become one of the AFL’s most formidable.
7 min read
May 2, 2024 - 8:00AM
Ask any AFL coach where the game will be won on any given weekend and their answer is almost always the same.
The midfield.
Fremantle learnt that lesson first-hand last season.
Bullied, bruised and bashed by the AFL’s most experienced on-ball divisions, the Dockers were criminally inconsistent.
Fremantle lived and died by the sword. A win would mean their midfield functioned. While a loss was intrinsically linked to what happened at stoppages.
This season has been a different story.
The return of Nat Fyfe and the addition of Hayden Young has given Fremantle’s midfield a new identity. Coupled with the continued form of Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw, the Dockers are suddenly formidable.
This is how they’ve done it.
RETURN OF THE KNIFE
Nat Fyfe has been a shadow of himself in the last few seasons but has dominated for Fremantle this year. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
Nat Fyfe joked during his 2019 Brownlow Medal acceptance speech that teammates Darcy Tucker and Reece Conca deserved just as much recognition for their unheralded role in his success.
“To Darcy and Reece, thanks very much for the selfless roles you played so much, and the texts I get from Concs before a game saying ‘you get after the pill and I’ll cover your man,’” Fyfe said on stage at Crown Palladium after accepting the game’s highest individual honour for a second time.
Yet in the ultimate twist of fate, if one of Caleb Serong or Andrew Brayshaw wins the Brownlow this year, Fyfe will be the man they thank.
In a remarkable career resurgence, the 32-year-old has transformed into a key defensive pillar of Fremantle’s firing midfield.
Fyfe’s former coach Ross Lyon declared in 2020 that “there is no better offensive player and ball hunter in the competition.”
NAT FYFE
DISPOSALS CONTESTED POSSESSIONS HANDBALLS CLEARANCES GROUNDBALL GETS 2024 averages 23.9 (above average) 12.1 (above average) 15.6 (elite) 6.6 (elite) 7.3 (above average)
The Dockers have spent the last two seasons flirting with Fyfe as a forward to make room for its emerging on-ballers, a pursuit that was put on hold due to a cruel run of injury.
This year, Fyfe has finally returned to the midfield but as a markedly different player.
“Fyfey has come back in and has dominated inside the contest,” Andrew Brayshaw said this week. “The ability of Hayden and Fyfey to run that defensive pattern allows people like Caleb, myself and Matt Johnson to get forward hard and really try and test out the opposition midfielders.
“Both of those guys crack in really hard but then also have a really good defensive role from there.
“The physical presence, you could sort of just feel it. He was imposing himself on the contest.”
What made Fyfe so effective at the peak of his powers was his contested ball-winning ability, an attacking trait that offset his average defensive running. With a full pre-season under his belt, Fyfe has rounded out his game and is now able to work back into defence and win more ball in transition.
Nat Fyfe speaks to Caleb Serong at Optus Stadium. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
That culminated in a vintage 37-disposal game against the Western Bulldogs, not that any of his teammates were surprised.
“It feels like he’s not going out there each week trying to be the best player anymore,” Hayden Young said. “He’s just trying to play his role for the team.
“On the weekend, he just happened to get on the end of a lot. But it’s not a result of chasing that feeling.
“He’s been really consistent with his preparation throughout the week. He’s been really balanced with the way he approaches games.”
Fyfe hasn’t lost the traits that made him the best player in the game. He’s currently averaging 6.6 clearances a game which puts him among the elite midfielders in the competition.
But while the fate of Fremantle’s midfield would once rest on Fyfe’s shoulder, he’s now the glue holding it together.
“His communication is something that stands out,” Young, a new addition to the midfield this season, said. “He’s someone that leads in that aspect and makes sure we’re really organised.
“He’s really desperate and fights and scraps for the ball. When it’s his time to go, he impacts. They’re the two main things I’ve noticed.
“I feel like me and Nat add a bit of height and size to the midfield which is always of benefit. I feel like we all complement each other really well and that’s why we’re playing some good football.”
THE YOUNG BUCK GETS BETTER
Caleb Serong smiles after the win over the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
It was going to take something special from Caleb Serong to top his 2023 season.
Yet somehow, he’s tracking even better this year.
Fresh off his first All-Australian blazer and his first Doig Medal, Serong started the year as one of the AFL’s best midfielders.
Against the Bulldogs, Serong won 17 clearances, a Fremantle record. Since records began in 1998, that’s only been topped eight times, with Paul Salmon leading the way with 22.
In round one, the 23-year-old also broke the Dockers’ record for the most disposals in a game, racking up 46 against Brisbane. He beat the previous bar of 44, jointly held by Peter Bell and David Mundy.
CALEB SERONG
DISPOSALS EFFECTIVE DISPOSALS CLEARANCES CONTESTED POSSESSIONS METRES GAINED 2024 averages 32.6 (elite) 23.7 (elite) 8.9 (elite) 15.9 (elite) 399.3 (above average)
The addition of Fyfe and Young to the midfield has freed up Serong to play to his strengths. And the opposition is suffering.
“He continues to go from strength to strength,” Young said. “It doesn’t surprise me because he’s the ultimate professional.
“It’s been great to watch up close. The best part about it is the addition of me and Nat hasn’t taken away his strengths. He’s a great ball winner and hunter.”
An AFL Rising Star back in 2020, the Dockers knew Serong was a special talent. Yet last year when Fremantle’s midfield was struggling, he was forced to bite off more than he could chew.
“Caleb probably did a lot of our heavy lifting last year inside,” Brayshaw said. “Fyfey has helped balance that out a bit.
“Blokes like myself, Caleb (Serong), Matt Johnson when he comes in, can be really aggressive and attacking when we can.”
THE EVOLUTION
Andrew Brayshaw’s tackling pressure has been phenomenal this season. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.
The big thing that sets Andrew Brayshaw apart from other midfielders is his tackling pressure.
It was what underpinned his 2022 season, a year where he was voted by his peers as the AFL’s Most Valuable Player. He also broke Fremantle’s record for the most tackles in a season.
It’s still not uncommon to see Brayshaw charging down an opposition player from behind. But now in his seventh season, the 24-year-old has evolved and unlocked a more attacking side to his game.
“That has allowed me to play potentially a bit more of an aggressive role going forward,” Brayshaw said of Fyfe’s return to the midfield. “It gives me a little bit of breathing room to be able to go on the outside as well which is nice.”
Brayshaw had 11 score involvements against the Bulldogs. He finished with 30 disposals, 22 of which were uncontested, four inside 50s and seven clearances.
ANDREW BRAYSHAW
DISPOSALS EFFECTIVE DISPOSALS UNCONTESTED POSSESSIONS SCORE INVOLVEMENT METRES GAINED 2024 averages 27.6 (elite) 20.3 (elite) 16.9 (above average) 6.6 (above average) 343.3 (above average)
Making his form even more remarkable is the fact that Brayshaw has been dealing with the after-effects of a knock he suffered in round two.
He played down the significance of the niggle this week, declaring he was “over the hill.” But his teammates can’t believe his output in the face of adversity.
“He’s been outstanding from my perspective,” Young said. “The thing that’s been so impressive is he probably hasn’t been feeling physically 100 per cent for a lot of the season.
“He’s been dealing with a few things and hasn’t trained a lot. When you don’t train, it makes it a lot harder to perform.
“He rocks up and executes his role to the best of his ability while pushing his body to the limit, he gets to the end of the game and he can hardly run but you wouldn’t know that from watching.
“He’s been outstanding. Once his body starts recovering and he builds a bit more strength, I think he’s going to take off because he’s been working through a bit of adversity.”
THE NEWCOMERS
Hayden Young has become one of the newcomers who’s found his feet in Fremantle’s midfield. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.
It’s been a matter of new position, same approach for Dockers defender-turned-midfielder Hayden Young.
We got our first taste of Young, the onballer, late last season. Realising they lacked size, the Dockers deployed Young in the guts.
It was a rapid learning curve. In his first month, he played on two Brownlow medallists in Patrick Dangerfield and Lachie Neale. But he played with instinct and halved, if not won each battle.
This year, his switch has become permanent. And it’s given Fremantle’s midfield instant accountability.
“’Youngy’ has been playing more of a defensive-minded midfield role, either being accountable for someone at stoppage or being that last mid to leave the stoppage and having that defensive positioning,” Brayshaw said.
HAYDEN YOUNG
DISPOSALS UNCONTESTED POSSESSIONS TACKLES SCORE INVOLVEMENTS METRES GAINED 2024 averages 24.9 (above average) 17.6 (elite) 6.4 (elite) 5.4 (above average) 421.3 (above averages
It’s simplified things for Young, who likened his pre-season to ‘going back to school.’
“I come from a backline background so I have more defensive aspects in my game,” Young said. “I’ve adapted my role to become a defensive mid.
“It suits the way we want to play. It allows Andy and Caleb who are really strong runners and hunters to do that whereas I can patrol the corridor and give more of a defensive layer.
“I’m still learning a lot and still making a lot of errors and I don’t think that will ever change. But I feel more comfortable out there and I feel like my head is a bit more clear.
“Having that defensive role helps with that because I know what my role is at stoppage and in transition. I’m starting to feel pretty confident out there and learning a lot and hopefully evolving.”
Brayshaw battling through injury is interesting, that's what it looked like early last year but I hadn't really noticed him being hampered this year.
Fremantle training notes: Key forward Matt Taberner set to be rested again as back complaint takes its toll
CommentsMitchell Woodcock
Fremantle hit the track on Thursday ahead of a rare MCG clash with Richmond. Here’s what caught our eye at training.
Matt’s not back
Fremantle forward Matt Taberner is set to be sidelined for another week as he continues to battle back soreness.Taberner, 30, has not played since the round four loss to Port Adelaide after he was managed ahead of the western derby loss.
The veteran didn’t play for Peel Thunder that same day and the club then had the WAFL bye, meaning he sat on the sidelines for another week.
Taberner is unlikely to play for Peel against West Perth on Saturday with the key forward battling a sore back, the same injury which cost him most of last season.
The 198cm target didn’t train with the main group, instead working alongside injured defender Brennan Cox (hamstring) and Conrad Williams (foot) on the opposite side of the oval.
Let’s get physical
There was no let-up for the Dockers despite preparing to head east to take on the Tigers this Sunday.The tackle bags were out and the midfielders were hitting them hard with contest work a focus early on in the session.
Nat Fyfe, Caleb Serong and Andy Brayshaw relished the opportunity to test out their physicality, while the forwards worked on some man-on-man work inside the arcs.
The defenders also did some light contest work as they look to continue to be one of the more physical sides in the AFL
No jogging for Josh
Young defender Josh Draper showed no signs of the hamstring injury that had him subbed out of the win over the Western Bulldogs at the weekend.Draper participated in full training including the sprint work as he looks to prove his fitness and add to the six games he’s already played this season.
Interestingly, captain Alex Pearce and running defender Ethan Hughes trained alongside the players who weren’t selected last weekend as they prepare to play WAFL on Saturday for Peel Thunder against East Perth.
Neither looked to hampered, but didn’t join the main session as they prepare to take on the Tigers.
Noticed Brayshaw looking sore after the doggies game
any one have page for this?
freo84
Norm Smith Medallist
I mean we've all been saying this for a while, both Brayshaw and Serong have had some opportunities but have been unable to capitalise enough.
So the question then leads to how do we get more out of them, and is there a personnel or rotation solution.
Yet Fyfe is subHow the addition of Hayden Young and return of Nat Fyfe has remoulded Fremantle’s midfield
Bullied, bruised and bashed, the Dockers midfield was criminally inconsistent last year. But 2024 is a different story. ELIZA REILLY reveals how Freo has rebuilt its midfield to become one of the AFL’s most formidable.
7 min read
May 2, 2024 - 8:00AM
Ask any AFL coach where the game will be won on any given weekend and their answer is almost always the same.
The midfield.
Fremantle learnt that lesson first-hand last season.
Bullied, bruised and bashed by the AFL’s most experienced on-ball divisions, the Dockers were criminally inconsistent.
Fremantle lived and died by the sword. A win would mean their midfield functioned. While a loss was intrinsically linked to what happened at stoppages.
This season has been a different story.
The return of Nat Fyfe and the addition of Hayden Young has given Fremantle’s midfield a new identity. Coupled with the continued form of Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw, the Dockers are suddenly formidable.
This is how they’ve done it.
RETURN OF THE KNIFE
Nat Fyfe has been a shadow of himself in the last few seasons but has dominated for Fremantle this year. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
Nat Fyfe joked during his 2019 Brownlow Medal acceptance speech that teammates Darcy Tucker and Reece Conca deserved just as much recognition for their unheralded role in his success.
“To Darcy and Reece, thanks very much for the selfless roles you played so much, and the texts I get from Concs before a game saying ‘you get after the pill and I’ll cover your man,’” Fyfe said on stage at Crown Palladium after accepting the game’s highest individual honour for a second time.
Yet in the ultimate twist of fate, if one of Caleb Serong or Andrew Brayshaw wins the Brownlow this year, Fyfe will be the man they thank.
In a remarkable career resurgence, the 32-year-old has transformed into a key defensive pillar of Fremantle’s firing midfield.
Fyfe’s former coach Ross Lyon declared in 2020 that “there is no better offensive player and ball hunter in the competition.”
NAT FYFE
DISPOSALS CONTESTED POSSESSIONS HANDBALLS CLEARANCES GROUNDBALL GETS 2024 averages 23.9 (above average) 12.1 (above average) 15.6 (elite) 6.6 (elite) 7.3 (above average)
The Dockers have spent the last two seasons flirting with Fyfe as a forward to make room for its emerging on-ballers, a pursuit that was put on hold due to a cruel run of injury.
This year, Fyfe has finally returned to the midfield but as a markedly different player.
“Fyfey has come back in and has dominated inside the contest,” Andrew Brayshaw said this week. “The ability of Hayden and Fyfey to run that defensive pattern allows people like Caleb, myself and Matt Johnson to get forward hard and really try and test out the opposition midfielders.
“Both of those guys crack in really hard but then also have a really good defensive role from there.
“The physical presence, you could sort of just feel it. He was imposing himself on the contest.”
What made Fyfe so effective at the peak of his powers was his contested ball-winning ability, an attacking trait that offset his average defensive running. With a full pre-season under his belt, Fyfe has rounded out his game and is now able to work back into defence and win more ball in transition.
Nat Fyfe speaks to Caleb Serong at Optus Stadium. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
That culminated in a vintage 37-disposal game against the Western Bulldogs, not that any of his teammates were surprised.
“It feels like he’s not going out there each week trying to be the best player anymore,” Hayden Young said. “He’s just trying to play his role for the team.
“On the weekend, he just happened to get on the end of a lot. But it’s not a result of chasing that feeling.
“He’s been really consistent with his preparation throughout the week. He’s been really balanced with the way he approaches games.”
Fyfe hasn’t lost the traits that made him the best player in the game. He’s currently averaging 6.6 clearances a game which puts him among the elite midfielders in the competition.
But while the fate of Fremantle’s midfield would once rest on Fyfe’s shoulder, he’s now the glue holding it together.
“His communication is something that stands out,” Young, a new addition to the midfield this season, said. “He’s someone that leads in that aspect and makes sure we’re really organised.
“He’s really desperate and fights and scraps for the ball. When it’s his time to go, he impacts. They’re the two main things I’ve noticed.
“I feel like me and Nat add a bit of height and size to the midfield which is always of benefit. I feel like we all complement each other really well and that’s why we’re playing some good football.”
THE YOUNG BUCK GETS BETTER
Caleb Serong smiles after the win over the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
It was going to take something special from Caleb Serong to top his 2023 season.
Yet somehow, he’s tracking even better this year.
Fresh off his first All-Australian blazer and his first Doig Medal, Serong started the year as one of the AFL’s best midfielders.
Against the Bulldogs, Serong won 17 clearances, a Fremantle record. Since records began in 1998, that’s only been topped eight times, with Paul Salmon leading the way with 22.
In round one, the 23-year-old also broke the Dockers’ record for the most disposals in a game, racking up 46 against Brisbane. He beat the previous bar of 44, jointly held by Peter Bell and David Mundy.
CALEB SERONG
DISPOSALS EFFECTIVE DISPOSALS CLEARANCES CONTESTED POSSESSIONS METRES GAINED 2024 averages 32.6 (elite) 23.7 (elite) 8.9 (elite) 15.9 (elite) 399.3 (above average)
The addition of Fyfe and Young to the midfield has freed up Serong to play to his strengths. And the opposition is suffering.
“He continues to go from strength to strength,” Young said. “It doesn’t surprise me because he’s the ultimate professional.
“It’s been great to watch up close. The best part about it is the addition of me and Nat hasn’t taken away his strengths. He’s a great ball winner and hunter.”
An AFL Rising Star back in 2020, the Dockers knew Serong was a special talent. Yet last year when Fremantle’s midfield was struggling, he was forced to bite off more than he could chew.
“Caleb probably did a lot of our heavy lifting last year inside,” Brayshaw said. “Fyfey has helped balance that out a bit.
“Blokes like myself, Caleb (Serong), Matt Johnson when he comes in, can be really aggressive and attacking when we can.”
THE EVOLUTION
Andrew Brayshaw’s tackling pressure has been phenomenal this season. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.
The big thing that sets Andrew Brayshaw apart from other midfielders is his tackling pressure.
It was what underpinned his 2022 season, a year where he was voted by his peers as the AFL’s Most Valuable Player. He also broke Fremantle’s record for the most tackles in a season.
It’s still not uncommon to see Brayshaw charging down an opposition player from behind. But now in his seventh season, the 24-year-old has evolved and unlocked a more attacking side to his game.
“That has allowed me to play potentially a bit more of an aggressive role going forward,” Brayshaw said of Fyfe’s return to the midfield. “It gives me a little bit of breathing room to be able to go on the outside as well which is nice.”
Brayshaw had 11 score involvements against the Bulldogs. He finished with 30 disposals, 22 of which were uncontested, four inside 50s and seven clearances.
ANDREW BRAYSHAW
DISPOSALS EFFECTIVE DISPOSALS UNCONTESTED POSSESSIONS SCORE INVOLVEMENT METRES GAINED 2024 averages 27.6 (elite) 20.3 (elite) 16.9 (above average) 6.6 (above average) 343.3 (above average)
Making his form even more remarkable is the fact that Brayshaw has been dealing with the after-effects of a knock he suffered in round two.
He played down the significance of the niggle this week, declaring he was “over the hill.” But his teammates can’t believe his output in the face of adversity.
“He’s been outstanding from my perspective,” Young said. “The thing that’s been so impressive is he probably hasn’t been feeling physically 100 per cent for a lot of the season.
“He’s been dealing with a few things and hasn’t trained a lot. When you don’t train, it makes it a lot harder to perform.
“He rocks up and executes his role to the best of his ability while pushing his body to the limit, he gets to the end of the game and he can hardly run but you wouldn’t know that from watching.
“He’s been outstanding. Once his body starts recovering and he builds a bit more strength, I think he’s going to take off because he’s been working through a bit of adversity.”
THE NEWCOMERS
Hayden Young has become one of the newcomers who’s found his feet in Fremantle’s midfield. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.
It’s been a matter of new position, same approach for Dockers defender-turned-midfielder Hayden Young.
We got our first taste of Young, the onballer, late last season. Realising they lacked size, the Dockers deployed Young in the guts.
It was a rapid learning curve. In his first month, he played on two Brownlow medallists in Patrick Dangerfield and Lachie Neale. But he played with instinct and halved, if not won each battle.
This year, his switch has become permanent. And it’s given Fremantle’s midfield instant accountability.
“’Youngy’ has been playing more of a defensive-minded midfield role, either being accountable for someone at stoppage or being that last mid to leave the stoppage and having that defensive positioning,” Brayshaw said.
HAYDEN YOUNG
DISPOSALS UNCONTESTED POSSESSIONS TACKLES SCORE INVOLVEMENTS METRES GAINED 2024 averages 24.9 (above average) 17.6 (elite) 6.4 (elite) 5.4 (above average) 421.3 (above averages
It’s simplified things for Young, who likened his pre-season to ‘going back to school.’
“I come from a backline background so I have more defensive aspects in my game,” Young said. “I’ve adapted my role to become a defensive mid.
“It suits the way we want to play. It allows Andy and Caleb who are really strong runners and hunters to do that whereas I can patrol the corridor and give more of a defensive layer.
“I’m still learning a lot and still making a lot of errors and I don’t think that will ever change. But I feel more comfortable out there and I feel like my head is a bit more clear.
“Having that defensive role helps with that because I know what my role is at stoppage and in transition. I’m starting to feel pretty confident out there and learning a lot and hopefully evolving.”
- Sep 27, 2018
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hes old and freo are traveling. it might be planned.Yet Fyfe is sub
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Fair call. He gets pounded off the ball.
Considering his lacerated kidney, he doesn't back away from the contest.
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