Fremantle skipper Nat Fyfe said he couldn’t help but wonder if he was in decline after seeing the club’s Generation Next run around him the preseason.
Still at his peak, Fyfe will start the AFL season as the third favorite to win the Brownlow Medal behind just Lachie Neale and Patrick Cripps.
But Fyfe had to ponder his worth as he stepped in competed against some of Fremantle’s rising midfield stars in the preseason.
Andrew Brayshaw and Adam Cerra are fast becoming true A-class midfielders, while Caleb Serong won last year’s Rising Star Award after a stellar debut campaign.
Fyfe takes pride in his young teammates thriving, but it’s also a reminder that the baton isn’t too far away.
« I had more than one moment in preseason thinking, » Oh, a lot cht I’m in relegation here and watch these guys fly around, « Fyfe told AAP.
» There was a pre-season training game where Serong had about six possessions with me in about five minutes, and me hadn’t touched it.
« I decided to actually mark it so I can get closer to the ball. I thought this might be an official changing of the guard.
« But later that night I looked back and thought, » Wow, this is great, we are now really in a position to have some high profile players playing in this Competition wreak havoc. «
The growing depth of Fremantle in midfield will allow Fyfe and colleague David Mundy to drift forward more often this season.
Fyfe will command the Dockers for the fifth consecutive year, and the 29th Year old has to smile when he is reminded of the generation gap between him and his younger teammates.
“Dave Mundy and I seem to be dealing with some flak in group chat about different things – a lot of things that we totally miss on social media .
« So there is a generation gap that is good in some ways because it keeps us young. »
Fremantle’s line of strikers has been ravaged by injuries in the past two weeks, with Rory Lobb (knee), Michael Walters (thigh), Bailey Banfield (syndesmosis), Mitch Crowden (calf) and Michael Frederick (calf) fell out of Melbourne clash at MCG.
Another blow was dealt to Dockers when key striker Josh Treacy, the d His AFL debut this week prevented a two-game ban on a WAFL practice game.
Melbourne will be without Michael Hibberd (ankle), Jake Melksham (thigh) and Jack Viney (foot).
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– Nat Fyfe impressed by Fremantle Dockers& # 39; Midfield Generation Next
Ref: https://thewest.com.au
