The journalism legend, whose annual top 50 list has become one of the game’s institutions, ranked Fyfe at 13 in his 2013 list.
But Sheahan said the Lake Grace product’s ceiling was very high.
“Thirteenth with a bullet,” he said.
“I think he’s got a high single figure next to his name this year.”
Despite Fyfe’s early misses in last year’s Grand Final, Sheahan said his effort was brilliant, particularly after he watched the game for a second time.
“You don’t appreciate it when it unfolds in front of you about what people do,” he said.
“The way he worked, his durability and attack on the footy, and he’s a brilliant mark, he would be top five in my current (top 50) list.”
Who does Sheahan rate as the most influential player at Freo?
Fyfe was one of five Freo players in Sheahan’s top 50 last season, with David Mundy 16th, Michael Johnson 24th, Chris Mayne 28th, and Ryan Crowley 39th.
Sheahan said he was a big fan of Johnson, who was integral to the league’s best backline in 2013.
“I reckon he’s a star,” he said.
“He’s this athletic, smart, cool, dude. You’ve got to watch him a lot to appreciate how good he is. He’s clean with his hands, has good vision, good awareness and is a good decision maker, and he never gets fussed.
“I’ve always liked him. I was disappointed I didn’t have him in the top 50 about three years ago, but to me, he almost demands a spot there now.”
The man Sheahan finds it hardest to rate is the league’s best tagger, Crowley.
“I leave him out pre-season because you’ve got everyone to pick from with the view that they could all play at their best and they’re all fit, so he gets pushed down the order,” Sheahan said.
“But at the end of the year, I’m saying, ‘here’s a bloke that wins the best and fairest, plays on the best players every week and mostly beats them’.
“Sometimes I mock him, I say ‘he just hangs out of the backside of the good players’, but then I see him beat the good players on merit, like he does with (Sam) Mitchell and blokes of that ilk.
“Then he kicks his own goals - if he kicked 15 or 20 goals a year you wouldn’t be surprised.”
Sheahan has no doubts about Crowley’s worth within the walls of Fremantle.
“I think on balance, Ross (Lyon) would have him in his best five or six,” he said.
“I’m probably not that adventurous on him, but I would say he’s a very valuable player at the footy club.”
Sheahan on Ross Lyon
One man at Freo that Sheahan admits he hasn’t given enough credit to over the years has been Luke McPharlin.
The brilliant defender was not in the 2013 top 50, and Sheahan himself wasn’t sure why.
“This is contradictory because I think he’s a star,” he said.
“Looking at them all playing at their best, you look at midfielders and forwards, and therefore he gets pushed out.
“He’s a great player. When he finishes, I’ll write this glowing tribute to him, and yet I probably haven’t appreciated him as much (as I should have) along the way.”
