Injured Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe says he won't know until next season whether the decision to take the whole year off to allow his fractured leg to heal properly is the right one.
Fyfe fractured his left fibula in the Freo Dockers' round five loss to Carlton. It is the same bone he fractured in last year's preliminary final.
He had surgery to have another plate inserted in the days following the injury. There was a possibility that Fyfe could play again this season with the plate still in his leg but it was decided he would get the plate removed and sit out the remainder of the year.
Fyfe told Channel Seven on Monday night that he feels fit enough to play now but he will have the plate removed in a couple of weeks. He said time would tell if it is the right decision.
"We won't know until next year, but a year off this year will hopefully give me some longevity in my career and have me ready to really attack next year and return to my best footy, which I've got every intention of doing," Fyfe said.
"I'm fit and strong and if I wasn't getting the plates removed I'd be playing footy by now.
"But the way we've gone, in a couple of weeks I'll have the surgery, have the plates taken out and start again on my rebuild for 2017."
Fyfe has been in the Freo Dockers' coaches' box and around the team on match days in recent weeks helping Fremantle's young midfield group. Fyfe is part of the Freo Dockers' leadership group and said the mentoring role had kept him engaged during his time out with injury.
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"It just reminds me and invigorates me and lets me know how powerful my influence can be," Fyfe said.
"I've had great mentors and leaders throughout my footy journey and I feel I've got an important leadership role to keep engaged, keep giving back to these young guys because we've got some genuine stars coming through. It's my job to nurture them to the top."
Teammate Lachie Neale said last week that Fyfe had been an important sounding board for him this year. He also said the two-time AFL Players' Association MVP provided a unique perspective for the players.
"He's been great," Neale said.
"He comes in at half-time and at the breaks and speaks to the midfielders.
"He's been great for me and Connor Blakely has been speaking to him at the breaks as well.
"He just gives us more of a player's perspective, instead of hearing from the coaches all of the time.
"He sees the game a bit differently to what Marc Webb (Freo Dockers midfield coach) might, or what Ross (Lyon) might.
"It's been fantastic for him to come in and give us some tips and give us some areas to grow and also some positive affirmations as well throughout the game."
