Nat Fyfe: Retiring Fremantle Dockers great thanks fans, gets guard of honour in what could be final home game
That was the final message from an emotional Nat Fyfe to a heaving Optus Stadium crowd as the Dockers legend received a guard of honour after what could be his last match in WA.
Fyfe lapped up the love from adoring Freo fans after his club's loss to Brisbane, with the mood quickly turning from sombre to appreciative after the Dockers' loss as attention turned to the retiring superstar.
The two-time Brownlow medallist did a quick lap of honour to acknowledge the Purple Army before heading down the race flanked by a guard of honour from teammates and Lions rivals.
Fyfe gave the thumbs-up and clapped to the crowd and hugged a string of important figures in the line-up before exiting the arena, with the Dockers now facing a tough task to ensure it won't be his last WA fixture.
'I've had an amazing journey across my career and always been supported by our Fremantle family,' Fyfe said on Fox after the game.
'They've always supported me, and I could hear them whenever I got the ball.
'It's very strange. It's not my style to announce a retirement then keep going - I would have liked to have just disappeared quietly.
'But I will soak in every single minute. This could be the last time I'm out here, and if that's so, that's OK.'
Fyfe had an impact with eight disposals and four inside-50s in his final quarter cameo after coming on, with every disposal cheered by Freo's record crowd for a non-derby clash of 54,302.
The fans were eager to show their support for Fyfe early despite him again starting as the substitute, with several fans making their presence felt along the boundary line with homemade signs before the game.
The club also got in on the occasion by handing out 10,000 posters of the two-time Brownlow medallist as the capacity crowd entered Optus Stadium.
A planned ovation at the seven-minute mark — the number Fyfe has worn for all but one of his 16 seasons with the Dockers — was only observed by small segments of the crowd, but their applause was audible around the ground.
Fremantle will need to beat the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium next week to secure their finals spot, or hope other results go their way if they don't.
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Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is adamant Luke Jackson's unexpected dash to Melbourne won't harm the team's chances in Sunday's must-win clash with the Western Bulldogs. Jackson flew to Melbourne after his partner's mum passed away on Saturday night, and he will remain there until Sunday's game at Marvel Stadium. The 23-year-old has been training by himself while away from Perth, and will link up with the Dockers when the team flies east on Friday. Although Longmuir said Jackson's absence would affect preparation "a little bit", he said it would have no affect come game time. "I'm confident we'll be able to work our way around it and confident he can still prepare really well," Longmuir said on Wednesday. "He's been in contact with the coaches, he's watched our reviews. "Sometimes personal circumstances override team preference. We'll work our way through that. "Come Sunday, it won't be an issue at all." Fremantle's finals fate hangs in the balance following last Friday's 57-point loss the Brisbane Lions in Perth. If the seventh-placed Dockers (15-7) lose to the eighth-placed Bulldogs (14-8), they will miss the finals unless Gold Coast lose to both Port Adelaide (away) and Essendon (home). Two-time Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe has already announced he will retire at the end of the season, and Fremantle are desperate to send him off with a flag. Fremantle had won 11 of their past 12 games before their big flop against Brisbane, and Longmuir has been baffled by the doomsday talk. "Everyone wants to catastrophise after one performance," Longmuir said. "As a club, we lean into our last 12, 13 weeks, which have been strong. "There's a good blue print there for us to succeed this weekend." The Bulldogs have won their past four games and are the highest scoring team in the competition, but Longmuir was quick to put the heat on them. "The pressure's on them as well, isn't it? The last time I checked, they've won one less game than us," Longmuir said. "The narrative around some of this stuff gets me a little bit, because last time I checked, we're on the same amount of wins as Collingwood, who are sitting fourth. "Everyone is talking like we're going to miss the finals. We've got full faith in this group to be able to go there and get it done, and play our way, and I'm confident our way is good enough." Dockers forward Josh Treacy said some of his team's poor decision making against the Lions had been so bad that it was laughable. "If you don't laugh you cry sometimes," Longmuir agreed. "It's almost like, 'Oh, how do you not kick a goal there', or 'How did you stuff that up?' "It just hasn't been us. I'm guessing that's what he (Treacy) is talking about, and that stuff is an easy fix." Longmuir was tight lipped when asked whether he would recall star midfielder Hayden Young, who has missed the past two weeks with an adductor strain but is expected to be unleashed against the Dogs. Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is adamant Luke Jackson's unexpected dash to Melbourne won't harm the team's chances in Sunday's must-win clash with the Western Bulldogs. Jackson flew to Melbourne after his partner's mum passed away on Saturday night, and he will remain there until Sunday's game at Marvel Stadium. The 23-year-old has been training by himself while away from Perth, and will link up with the Dockers when the team flies east on Friday. Although Longmuir said Jackson's absence would affect preparation "a little bit", he said it would have no affect come game time. "I'm confident we'll be able to work our way around it and confident he can still prepare really well," Longmuir said on Wednesday. "He's been in contact with the coaches, he's watched our reviews. "Sometimes personal circumstances override team preference. We'll work our way through that. "Come Sunday, it won't be an issue at all." Fremantle's finals fate hangs in the balance following last Friday's 57-point loss the Brisbane Lions in Perth. If the seventh-placed Dockers (15-7) lose to the eighth-placed Bulldogs (14-8), they will miss the finals unless Gold Coast lose to both Port Adelaide (away) and Essendon (home). Two-time Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe has already announced he will retire at the end of the season, and Fremantle are desperate to send him off with a flag. Fremantle had won 11 of their past 12 games before their big flop against Brisbane, and Longmuir has been baffled by the doomsday talk. "Everyone wants to catastrophise after one performance," Longmuir said. "As a club, we lean into our last 12, 13 weeks, which have been strong. "There's a good blue print there for us to succeed this weekend." The Bulldogs have won their past four games and are the highest scoring team in the competition, but Longmuir was quick to put the heat on them. "The pressure's on them as well, isn't it? The last time I checked, they've won one less game than us," Longmuir said. "The narrative around some of this stuff gets me a little bit, because last time I checked, we're on the same amount of wins as Collingwood, who are sitting fourth. "Everyone is talking like we're going to miss the finals. We've got full faith in this group to be able to go there and get it done, and play our way, and I'm confident our way is good enough." Dockers forward Josh Treacy said some of his team's poor decision making against the Lions had been so bad that it was laughable. "If you don't laugh you cry sometimes," Longmuir agreed. "It's almost like, 'Oh, how do you not kick a goal there', or 'How did you stuff that up?' "It just hasn't been us. I'm guessing that's what he (Treacy) is talking about, and that stuff is an easy fix." Longmuir was tight lipped when asked whether he would recall star midfielder Hayden Young, who has missed the past two weeks with an adductor strain but is expected to be unleashed against the Dogs. Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is adamant Luke Jackson's unexpected dash to Melbourne won't harm the team's chances in Sunday's must-win clash with the Western Bulldogs. Jackson flew to Melbourne after his partner's mum passed away on Saturday night, and he will remain there until Sunday's game at Marvel Stadium. The 23-year-old has been training by himself while away from Perth, and will link up with the Dockers when the team flies east on Friday. Although Longmuir said Jackson's absence would affect preparation "a little bit", he said it would have no affect come game time. "I'm confident we'll be able to work our way around it and confident he can still prepare really well," Longmuir said on Wednesday. "He's been in contact with the coaches, he's watched our reviews. "Sometimes personal circumstances override team preference. We'll work our way through that. "Come Sunday, it won't be an issue at all." Fremantle's finals fate hangs in the balance following last Friday's 57-point loss the Brisbane Lions in Perth. If the seventh-placed Dockers (15-7) lose to the eighth-placed Bulldogs (14-8), they will miss the finals unless Gold Coast lose to both Port Adelaide (away) and Essendon (home). Two-time Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe has already announced he will retire at the end of the season, and Fremantle are desperate to send him off with a flag. Fremantle had won 11 of their past 12 games before their big flop against Brisbane, and Longmuir has been baffled by the doomsday talk. "Everyone wants to catastrophise after one performance," Longmuir said. "As a club, we lean into our last 12, 13 weeks, which have been strong. "There's a good blue print there for us to succeed this weekend." The Bulldogs have won their past four games and are the highest scoring team in the competition, but Longmuir was quick to put the heat on them. "The pressure's on them as well, isn't it? The last time I checked, they've won one less game than us," Longmuir said. "The narrative around some of this stuff gets me a little bit, because last time I checked, we're on the same amount of wins as Collingwood, who are sitting fourth. "Everyone is talking like we're going to miss the finals. We've got full faith in this group to be able to go there and get it done, and play our way, and I'm confident our way is good enough." Dockers forward Josh Treacy said some of his team's poor decision making against the Lions had been so bad that it was laughable. "If you don't laugh you cry sometimes," Longmuir agreed. "It's almost like, 'Oh, how do you not kick a goal there', or 'How did you stuff that up?' "It just hasn't been us. I'm guessing that's what he (Treacy) is talking about, and that stuff is an easy fix." Longmuir was tight lipped when asked whether he would recall star midfielder Hayden Young, who has missed the past two weeks with an adductor strain but is expected to be unleashed against the Dogs.
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Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is adamant Luke Jackson's unexpected dash to Melbourne won't harm the team's chances in Sunday's must-win clash with the Western Bulldogs. Jackson flew to Melbourne after his partner's mum passed away on Saturday night, and he will remain there until Sunday's game at Marvel Stadium. The 23-year-old has been training by himself while away from Perth, and will link up with the Dockers when the team flies east on Friday. Although Longmuir said Jackson's absence would affect preparation "a little bit", he said it would have no affect come game time. "I'm confident we'll be able to work our way around it and confident he can still prepare really well," Longmuir said on Wednesday. "He's been in contact with the coaches, he's watched our reviews. "Sometimes personal circumstances override team preference. We'll work our way through that. "Come Sunday, it won't be an issue at all." Fremantle's finals fate hangs in the balance following last Friday's 57-point loss the Brisbane Lions in Perth. If the seventh-placed Dockers (15-7) lose to the eighth-placed Bulldogs (14-8), they will miss the finals unless Gold Coast lose to both Port Adelaide (away) and Essendon (home). Two-time Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe has already announced he will retire at the end of the season, and Fremantle are desperate to send him off with a flag. Fremantle had won 11 of their past 12 games before their big flop against Brisbane, and Longmuir has been baffled by the doomsday talk. "Everyone wants to catastrophise after one performance," Longmuir said. "As a club, we lean into our last 12, 13 weeks, which have been strong. "There's a good blue print there for us to succeed this weekend." The Bulldogs have won their past four games and are the highest scoring team in the competition, but Longmuir was quick to put the heat on them. "The pressure's on them as well, isn't it? The last time I checked, they've won one less game than us," Longmuir said. "The narrative around some of this stuff gets me a little bit, because last time I checked, we're on the same amount of wins as Collingwood, who are sitting fourth. "Everyone is talking like we're going to miss the finals. We've got full faith in this group to be able to go there and get it done, and play our way, and I'm confident our way is good enough." Dockers forward Josh Treacy said some of his team's poor decision making against the Lions had been so bad that it was laughable. "If you don't laugh you cry sometimes," Longmuir agreed. "It's almost like, 'Oh, how do you not kick a goal there', or 'How did you stuff that up?' "It just hasn't been us. I'm guessing that's what he (Treacy) is talking about, and that stuff is an easy fix." Longmuir was tight lipped when asked whether he would recall star midfielder Hayden Young, who has missed the past two weeks with an adductor strain but is expected to be unleashed against the Dogs.
