Fyfe won't pay extra notice to Mitchell
The West Australian
Fremantle midfielder Nat Fyfe says he won’t be taking any extra precautions when he crosses paths with Hawthorn star Sam Mitchell in Friday night’s preliminary final at Domain Stadium.
Fyfe said this afternoon he would train in tomorrow’s main session and was a certain starter against the Hawks, despite lingering soreness in his lower left leg.
Fyfe, the odds-on favourite to win the Brownlow Medal, had a blistering start to the season when he announced himself as the game’s current best player.
Dockers out in force
The West Australian
Most of Fremantle's big names hit the track this morning, although some only briefly, as the Dockers prepare for Friday night’s preliminary final against Hawthorn at Domain Stadium.
The players trained in three groups at Fremantle Oval, a day out from their main session tomorrow.
Those who regularly line up for Peel Thunder were there when the open session started, with Alex Pearce doing very little and Anthony Morabito (knee) continuing a running program after another season in the wilderness.
Bell stands for election on board at Fremantle
The West Australian
Former Fremantle captain Peter Bell will stand for election to the Dockers’ board in a bid to replace another former skipper Ben Allan, who will step down in November after serving 10 years.
Bell, who aims to win his seat on the board as a member-elected director, said the club faced an important period in its history.
“I have always been supportive of the club and there has been a good separation from my playing career there,” Bell said.
“Eight years has passed now and the opportunity came up to nominate.
“I gave it some serious thought because with a young family there is only so much time, but I thought I had something to offer as far as knowledge of the football department and what they require but also to be involved with the club in what is a very important time with the elite training facility at Cockburn and also the move to the new stadium.”
Bell said he viewed serving on the board as the best way to make a contribution to the club.
Michael Johnson set to bounce back for Fremantle Dockers after flu
PerthNow
FREMANTLE coach Ross Lyon is adamant Michael Johnson’s slow start to the AFL finals was nothing more than a case of the flu wearing him down.
The defender missed eight games earlier this season because of a torn hamstring, while a serious back injury ruled him out of last year’s finals series.
The 30-year-old looked sore in the qualifying-final win over Sydney two weeks ago, raising fears he was carrying an injury.
But Lyon was quick to hose down any concerns ahead of Friday night’s preliminary final against Hawthorn at Subiaco Oval.
Nat Fyfe has to play through pain barrier
WAToday
The Fremantle medical staff will have their hands full getting Nat Fyfe ready for the grand final should the Dockers get by Hawthorn in their preliminary final clash at Domain Stadium on Friday night.
Providing he does no further damage to his injured leg, he'll be able to play in the premiership play-off; it's just a question of how much pain he'll be in.
Fyfe likens the leg injury that kept him out of action in rounds 22 and 23 to shin splints.
He played against Sydney in the qualifying final and had 32 touches to be arguably best on the ground and the prize of a week off that came with the nine-point victory has been very welcome.
Stephen and Bradley Hill meet again with a premiership on the line
Herald Sun
BACK IN 2013, when they became the first brothers in 101 years to oppose each other in a VFL/AFL Grand Final, the dynamic was very different for Stephen and Bradley Hill.
Stephen, then 23, was the former top-three draft pick who had 108 AFL games and 18 Brownlow votes under his belt and was considered one of league’s young stars.
Bradley, then 20, was a promising talent in his second season and still very much known as Stephen’s little brother.
But two premiership medallions since then have delivered Bradley bragging rights.
All-Australian honours for Eagles, Dockers
The West Australian
Brownlow Medal favourite Nat Fyfe was the only Fremantle player named in the starting 18, with teammate David Mundy picked on the interchange bench.
Ross Lyon-coached teams apply pressure better than anyone, Paul Chapman says
Herald Sun
RETIRED Premiership hero Paul Chapman has explained the mythology behind a Ross Lyon-inspired midfield system that threatens to derail Hawthorn.
Chapman, 33, who recently retired after 280 games with Geelong and Essendon between 2000-2015, played against Lyon-coached teams 10 times including five finals.
Writing in his upcoming autobiography titled “Chappy”, Chapman admits to having great respect for any side coached by Lyon, describing their on-ball pressure as being superior to any other team.
“Any team coached by Ross Lyon is frantic and manic in their pressure around the bal1,” he writes.
Dockers gun Nat Fyfe benefits from rest before Hawks
The Australian
Brownlow Medal favourite Nat Fyfe has conceded his leg injury is a nuisance but is adamant it will have no impact on his performance in Friday night’s preliminary final.
The AFL Players’ Association’s Most Valuable Player gathered 32 disposals in the Dockers’ gritty qualifying final win over Sydney and is confident he will again perform strongly against the Hawthorn at Domain Stadium.
“It's been handy having the extra week,” Fyfe said.
“There was always going to be a little bit of a response from playing but I pulled up quite well, so I'm happy.
“Medically, I think it is similar to shin splints, but it’s just in my lower leg, in the fibula. It’s a little bit of a nuisance, but I’ll be fine.”
Nat Fyfe says Fremantle Dockers’ week-long turnaround for Grand Final would test his sore leg
PerthNow
NAT Fyfe has admitted the one-week turnaround between the preliminary final and Grand Final would “pose a challenge’’ for him as he carries a leg injury through the finals series.
The Fremantle superstar said the two-week break ahead of Friday night’s preliminary final showdown with Hawthorn had been a big help as he tries to overcome pain in his lower left leg.
“No one’s 100 per cent, but I’ll be playing,’’ Fyfe said.
“It’s been handy having an extra week. There was always going to be a little bit of a response from playing, but it’s pulled up quite well so I’m happy.
