Nat Fyfe says the constant speculation about his Brownlow Medal chances has become a sideshow that is distracting from how well Fremantle is playing as a team.
Fyfe is the overwhelming Brownlow favourite just seven rounds into the season. He leads the AFL Coaches’ Association award by a remarkable 22 votes, having polled 58 from a possible 70 votes in the first seven games.
A look back at Fyfe's first game for Freo
Fyfe polled 25 votes in the Brownlow Medal last season from just 18 games, one shy of winner Matt Priddis. Fyfe was ineligible to win due to missing four games through suspension.
"It's somewhat of a distracting side plot to the fact that we're 7-0 and going really well as a footy club," Fyfe said.
"I don't read into it too much but I'd be lying if I didn't acknowledge that there is some noise there, and it is disappointing that it sometimes takes away from what we're achieving as a group."
Fyfe was asked what it would mean to win a Brownlow.
"Certainly it's a prestigious honour,” he said. “(I) would be really humble to win it. But I'm not going to comment on whether I want to achieve one individually."
There has been a media circus surrounding Fyfe this week. He was facing a potential suspension on Monday after being reported for tripping in Sunday's win over the Western Bulldogs. But he escaped suspension after the Match Review Panel sanctioned him with a $1000 fine.
He is now gearing up for his 100th game on Saturday night. Fyfe said he was excited about the milestone but he believed he has a long way to go.
"Individually I have been quite lucky and achieved a few things," Fyfe said.
"Falling short as a team in 2013 still stings and there is a lot I want to achieve individually and more importantly as a collective with this footy club, so I am excited about what the next 100 (games) looks like."
Team is focus for Fyfe
Fyfe, 23, has been compared to Chris Judd and Joel Selwood in terms of what he has achieved in his first 100 games but in terms of decorations, he’s a fair way behind.
Fyfe has been named All Australian once. Selwood won two premierships, a best and fairest, a NAB Rising Star award and was twice named All Australian in his first 100 games. Judd won a Brownlow Medal, a Norm Smith Medal, a best and fairest, was an All Australian and West Coast's club captain before he reached 100 games.
Fyfe said he was humbled by the comparisons but he was firmly focused on facing North Melbourne on Saturday night.
Match preview: Fremantle v North Melbourne
"There is a bit of attention and hype around at the moment," Fyfe said.
"But I am pretty internally focused and the footy club has kept me pretty grounded. It is never as good as it seems, never as bad as it seems. (I'm) just controlling the controllable at the moment and not worrying about the comparisons."
