Fremantle Dockers chief executive Simon Garlick has ‘unshakeable faith' Nat Fyfe will return in 2025
Concerns that Fremantle champion Nat Fyfe may have played his last AFL game are 'premature and unfounded', according to the Dockers, who have 'unshakeable faith' he will return in 2025.
Fyfe will be sidelined for up to two months with his latest hamstring injury, which could put him in a race against time to break into the senior side late in the season.
But Fremantle chief executive Simon Garlick has emphatically backed the dual Brownlow Medallist to make a triumphant return.
Garlick said concerns Fyfe would not play another game in purple were 'premature and unfounded at this point'.
'This is a hamstring injury, which is disappointing, and will have him out for a bit of an extended period,' Garlick said.
'But it's such a long year. When you throw in the bye we'll have mid-year, 23-game season, 24 rounds and finals, time is on his side,
'Knowing the professionalism and dedication of the man, the work he'll do to give himself every chance means that if I were a betting man - which I'm not - I wouldn't be betting against him, and I think you do that at your own peril.'
Fyfe's latest setback has put a possible 250-game milestone in doubt, having notched up 240 appearances across 16 seasons at Fremantle.
The 33-year-old is yet to play a senior game this campaign after pre-season knee surgery was followed by his latest hamstring injury, sustained in a WAFL game for Peel Thunder earlier this month.
Garlick had no doubt that Fyfe would not leave any stone unturned in his push for a late-season return, as the veteran superstar continues his pursuit of an elusive premiership with the Dockers.
'Being in the fortunate position to get to know him reasonably well over the last five or six years, I just know the character of the man,' he said.
'I saw him on the track this morning, jogging lightly through and his mind, he is building towards playing a really significant role for us in the back half of the year.
'He would of liked for it to be earlier in the year, he was building towards that, but it's another hurdle for him to overcome.
'I think people look at superstars of the game like Nat and feel like, because they've had such incredible highs, that sometimes you can think it's been pretty smooth sailing.
'But he's overcome so much before, so we've got unshakeable faith he'll be able to overcome this.'
Fyfe is out of contract at the end of the season, which is expected to be his last.
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