Fremantle will take a new look leadership group into the 2017 season with midfielder Nat Fyfe at the helm as the club’s ninth captain.
Selected with pick 20 in the 2009 National Draft, Fyfe adds the captaincy to a number of achievements from a stellar career - including the 2015 Brownlow Medal, two Doig Medals and two All Australian selections.
Tuesday’s vote also saw two new faces included in the leadership group, with Michael Walters and Lachie Neale joining Fyfe, David Mundy, Aaron Sandilands and Lee Spurr based on the 5-4-3-2-1 voting method.
Fyfe takes the reigns from Mundy, who led the side in 2016, after Matthew Pavlich captained the club for nine years from 2007 to 2015.
The appointment of Fyfe, Walters and Neale into new leadership roles comes as the side embarks on a new era.
The club is set to move into their new training and administration facility this month, boasting a list with a strong profile of players aged in the low-to-mid twenties.
At 25-years-old, Fyfe is the same age as Pavlich when he was appointed captain for the first time.
“It hasn’t really sunk in fully yet, but it’s just fantastic to get the support of the players, and to also have two new members of the leadership group,” Fyfe said.
“It’s an exciting time for the footy club and we have an exciting group to lead the club for the next four or five years.
“We’ve got fresh new talent through he door. We’ve got great coaching staff and people in administration roles.
“The club’s in really good hands and the future looks exciting.”
Renowned for doing his utmost to inspire his teammates, Walters joins the leadership group after winning Fremantle’s goalkicking award three times, sitting sixth in Fremantle’s all-time goalkicking list.
Neale’s addition comes after an outstanding season that saw the midfielder win the 2016 Doig Medal, while racking up an AFL record 737 possessions in the home and away season.
Senior coach Ross Lyon says the inclusion of youth in the 2017 leadership group is an appropriate reflection of Fremantle’s list as it builds for the future.
“The leadership group is the foundation for the list and the team, our on field performance and drive at training.
“The additions of Lachie Neale and Michael Walters have been built over a fair period of time, and we’re pleased about that.”
Lyon credited Mundy’s efforts as captain in 2016, with the 31-year-old continuing his role in the leadership group alongside senior players Sandilands and Spurr.
“It was a difficult year last year for David (Mundy), taking over from Matthew Pavlich. He led us well under difficult circumstances,” Lyon said.
“But as Nathan said when he spoke to the players, it is a transitioning list.
“We’re aiming high and in a different situation to the year before. We had a more mature list and were coming off a strong year in 2015.
“We’re transitioning, and it talks to an emerging leader who can be with the group for a long period."
Neale, who captained the Glenelg under 18 side, was pleased to take the next step into Fremantle’s leadership group.
“It’s a pretty big honour,” Neale said.
“Obviously it’s voted by our peers and teammates so it’s pretty special and something that I’ve slowly been working towards in my junior career.
“To be here is fantastic and it’s a privilege.”
For Walters, being in the leadership group won’t change how he approaches his football on and off the field.
“I’m just going to stick with being me,” Walters said.
“I want to stick to the way I’ve been playing and the way I’ve been training.
“I feel like my leadership on and off the field has been one of my strong focal points over the last couple of years, so there’s nothing I want to change - I’m just going to keep being me and focus on that.”
