Fremantle’s playing group have expressed their disappointment for Nat Fyfe, who’s long wait to return to finals will continue after he sustained a hamstring injury at training.
Fyfe famously played through a leg fracture in their last finals appearance in the 2015 preliminary final against Hawthorn and his teammates know their captain would give anything to have the chance to lead the team out against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night at Optus Stadium.
Fyfe was upbeat on the track on Wednesday, goal umpiring a match sim and giving pointers to Freo’s younger players.
Defender Griffin Logue said the players had been checking up on the two-time Brownlow Medallist.
“It was a real shock and heartbreaking to be honest,” Logue told TAB Radio.
“If it was up to him, he would will himself onto the field and I'm still hoping that he does.
“It's heartbreaking for what he's been through with his body. We'll certainly be getting around him and making sure he's alright, but he'll be up and about and cheering us on as much as possible.”
Young midfielder Caleb Serong said Fyfe had driven the group to get to a finals standard.
“He’s put so much work in behind the scenes over the last five, six years to get this Club back to finals and to not be there at the weekend, having it stripped away from him at the last minute is pretty flattening,” Serong told Sport FM.
“We know and he knows what he’s got to do to contribute to the team and that’s bringing the energy, being his best self, a really positive influence around the group.
“He can have a massive impact on how we go on the weekend even though he’s not out there on game day.”
Fellow leader David Mundy remained optimistic that Fyfe would have an impact later in the finals series.
“He’s had a bad run and it’s clearly not great timing for us,” Mundy told 96FM.
“Nat’s clearly a very good player and it would have been lovely to have him. Hopefully, it doesn't turn out to be too bad and if we keep winning, we will see him again this season.”
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