Nat Fyfe is continuing to build towards his dominant best, according to senior coach Ross Lyon.

The Fremantle captain came under scrutiny after last Saturday’s clash with Adelaide, despite being among Freo’s leaders in contested possessions and clearances, while kicking an impressive goal from the centre square.

Lyon acknowledged that Fyfe has faced some challenges on his return from a broken leg but credited the 2015 Brownlow Medallist for helping Fremantle turn their season around.

“There’s consistently a lot of noise and a lot of (journalists) trying to be heard, and they often go down the sensationalist route,” Lyon said.

“The simpler line would be, after a year and a half out, it takes a fair bit to get back to being your best. 

“Nathan’s played some super halves and three-quarters of football.

“There’s only three teams above us on the ladder on a win-loss basis, if you want to exclude percentage, so that’s a reasonable performance and that means there are 15 teams either equal or behind us.

“So for our list, where we’re at and what we’re doing, I think Nathan’s been super with our senior players in (David) Mundy and (Michael) Walters and (Michael) Johnson.

“In those guys getting us to where we are, you can’t do that without Nathan playing very good football.

“That’s just impossible.”

Fyfe has racked up 25 disposals or more on eight occasions in 2017 and Lyon added that Fyfe has been crucial in a number of Fremantle’s wins.

“If you think about Nat’s second half against Essendon, he dominated the game,” Lyon said.

“Against Richmond he was really good. Against North, he really got to work.

“If you’re being really picky, from the first bounce to the last bounce you would say that he’s had some ebbs and flows but I’ve got no doubt that he’s building.

“Nathan’s very special to us.”

After sitting at the bottom of the ladder following the opening two rounds, Fremantle is currently seventh and just one win outside of a place in the top four.

Lyon partially credited Fremantle’s quick turnaround to Fyfe and his fellow leaders.

“I think Nat’s captaincy is in its infancy and he’s already leaving a footprint,” Lyon said.

“Being able to drag a group along with him along with Mundy, (Aaron) Sandilands and those guys.

“Did anyone tip us to be 6-4 after being 0-2? That’s been driven off the back of Nathan, his leadership and the leadership group.”