Nat Fyfe has described the support of the Fremantle fans as ‘phenomenal’ and a factor in his decision to re-sign with the club.
The brilliant midfielder agreed to a three-year contract extension that will keep him in purple until at least the end of 2017.
“The decision to stay with the club was just a matter of time really,” he said.
“I’ve really enjoyed playing with Freo and I’m from WA. Ultimately, the best fit for me was to stay here in Freo.”
The 22-year-old debuted in 2010 and has ascended to AFL superstar status.
If social media has been any indicator, Freo supporters could not fathom life without Fyfe.
He said the fans had made it very clear how they felt about him staying.
“I’ve had a lot of people come up to me in the street and say ‘I hope you stay with Freo’ and ‘I enjoy watching you play footy’,” Fyfe said.
“The support from the fans all the way through my career has been phenomenal.
“I really do feel like I’m a product of them and I love giving back to them.
“The best way I can repay some of that is by playing good footy for Freo in the next couple of years.”
The club’s position on and off the field also had a ‘big’ role to play in keeping Fyfe at Freo.
“There’s a strong culture being built now since the acquisition of Ross Lyon and his coaching staff,” Fyfe said.
“That culture is really driven by the players – high accountability, high standards.
“It’s great to be a part of that building process and I really want to be a part of that going forward from here.”
Fyfe grew up in Lake Grace, a small town 345km south-east of Perth.
The country boy never envisaged he’d be lining up in an AFL Grand Final, or that youngsters around the country would be wearing his name and number on their backs.
“It was always a dream to play in the big time and strive to win premierships, but it has really come pretty quickly and I’ve enjoyed the journey,” Fyfe said.
“Hopefully, there’s a lot more chapters still to come.”
For at least the next three seasons, those chapters will be at Fremantle, which he said now felt like ‘home’.
“I’m pretty lucky to be able to come to work and play footy with a bunch of mates,” Fyfe said.
“I’m just really humbled to be able to stay here another three years.”
Fyfe a 'product of the fans'
Nat Fyfe has described the support of the Fremantle fans as ‘phenomenal’