After agreeing terms on a new six-year deal with Fremantle, Nat Fyfe has stated his ambition to be a part of a side that delivers the club its first premiership.
After achieving the game’s highest individual honour as the 2015 Brownlow Medallist, Fyfe said his decision to stay at Fremantle considered the club’s ability to compete in the coming seasons.
“I just see a really good opportunity at Fremantle to build something quite special and to build towards potentially, our first premiership,” Fyfe said.
“I’ve worked really hard for the club up until this point to get myself into a position of leadership.
“I’ve really loved the role of captain working with our leaders and (senior coach) Ross Lyon and there’s no real reason for me to divert and look elsewhere looking for that dream.”
The Fremantle captain discussed his new contract overlooking the Swan River towards the new Perth Stadium, where Fyfe is set to play most of his football through to the 2023 season.
With one of Australia's premier stadiums in his own backyard, Fyfe said he saw no need to look to play his footy elsewhere.
“I think that the quality of the football that’s coming out of Western Australia is big enough and to be able to play at a brand new stadium for the best part of the next half-decade is a big enough stage for me,” Fyfe said.
“We’re in an education phase at the moment with our young group and we’re fast-tracking guys along.
“In the coming years, the hard work will blossom and hopefully, we’ll be able to play some big games here, across in Melbourne and potentially in grand finals.
“I’m very keen to be a part of Fremantle’s first premiership. It’s a lofty and ambitious goal but we’re pretty confident that we’ve got the right people in the right places as far as Ross Lyon as coach, (president) Dale Alcock, (CEO) Steve Rosich and the rest of our administration and coaches – as well as a young group that’s hungry to learn and improve.
"We’ll do everything we can to get towards that goal.
“There’s an excitement factor coming out of Sean Darcy, Luke Ryan, Griffin Logue, Darcy Tucker…we’ve got some guys who I can see are going to play a lot of footy for Fremantle.
“As a more senior player we’re really just stepping back and letting those guys get to work and produce some special things.”
While Fyfe will be 31 in the final year of his contract, he has hopes of playing on beyond 2023.
Fyfe has played 132 career games at Fremantle since making his debut in 2010.
After playing only five games in 2016 due to a broken leg, Fyfe is hopeful that spending almost a year out of the game will be beneficial in the long run.
“Roger Federer just won Wimbledon at 35, so my hope is that I can still be in pretty good condition at 31 or 32,” Fyfe said.
“The year off will help me in the back-end of this contract phase.
“I’m already feeling the benefits from a big off-season and a year out of footy.
"This year’s been a little bit scratchy form-wise but I’m starting to put together performances that I know I’m capable of and I think that will build throughout the rest of this year and hopefully, into next year.”
