Fremantle Dockers twin Brownlow Medallist and former captain Nat Fyfe to retire from AFL

Former Fremantle Dockers captain and twin Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe has confirmed he’ll retire on the finish of the 2025 AFL season.

The 33-year-old confirmed his resolution on Monday afternoon, telling his teammates it was the fitting second to name time on his 16-year profession.

“Retiring has been a dialog that has been ongoing for in all probability the final 12 months with my household, my associate Bridget, my shut circle, JL [Justin Longmuir], Joe Brierty and Simon Garlick,” Fyfe stated in a press release.

In a video provided by the Dockers, Fyfe advised his teammates it had been “an unimaginable journey”.

“The sport’s been remarkably beneficiant to me. I’ve had so many fantastic highs alongside the best way,” he stated.

“The final 5 years have been actually difficult … I really feel just like the adversity actually shifts your perspective on numerous issues and I could not be extra grateful for that.

“It has been an incredible journey and I really feel like there’s simply nonetheless one final epic chapter to complete off.”

Fyfe has performed simply 5 video games this season — 4 of them because the sub — after battling by means of a succession of leg muscle accidents.

He got here on because the substitute in Saturday’s come-from-behind win over Port Adelaide, which noticed Fremantle climb into the highest 4.

Two Brownlow Medals

Hailing from the Wheatbelt farming city of Lake Grace, Fyfe was chosen at decide 20 within the 2009 draft.

He debuted in Spherical 1 the next 12 months, shortly cementing himself as a key a part of the Dockers midfield.

He was amongst his aspect’s finest within the 2013 Grand Closing loss to Hawthorn.

Two years later he claimed his, and Fremantle’s, first Brownlow Medal, polling 31 votes regardless of lacking 4 video games.

A second Brownlow adopted in 2019, cementing Fyfe among the many competitors’s trendy greats.

He will even retire as a 3 time membership champion and All-Australian, together with being named captain of that aspect in 2019.

“Nat’s legacy on the Fremantle Soccer Membership will stay on without end,” stated Dockers government common supervisor of soccer Joe Brierty.

“What he has achieved over the span of his profession, not solely at a person degree however as a membership chief is one thing he needs to be immensely happy with.”

Brierty stated he was certain Fyfe’s resolution to retire will spur each himself and his aspect to finals success.

“Along with his resolution to retire on the conclusion of our 2025 marketing campaign, we all know he’ll depart no stone unturned to take advantage of out of each second left,” he stated.

Nothing left to show

With 245 video games to his title forward of this weekend’s conflict with Brisbane, Fyfe stated he had nothing left to show to himself.

“I am simply immensely grateful for what my AFL expertise and enjoying with Fremantle has given to me,” he stated.

“It has been an infinite alternative and has taken me to locations I might by no means have dreamed of.

“I depart with a way of understanding that I do not want something additional, which is a extremely peaceable place to be, and but myself — and the staff — nonetheless discover ourselves ready the place that elusive premiership dream is effectively and really alive.”

Fyfe additionally thanked the membership’s followers for his or her assist.

“They embraced me as a thin child, watched me rise by means of the ranks and supported me by means of that, after which over the past couple of years it is taken on a special high quality for me,” he stated.

“As I struggled with harm and adversity, the unconditional assist and love from the Fremantle neighborhood, supporters and members, prepared me on, whether or not that was simply coming as much as me on the street, writing to me or simply cheering once I received the footy on the bottom means rather a lot.

“I will at all times be a Fremantle individual and I will be eternally grateful for the assist I’ve acquired from the Freo household.”

Tribute from proud dad

Talking to Andrew Collins on ABC Regional Drive, Fyfe’s father David stated he was immensely happy with his son.

“As a father or mother, you are at all times proud,” Mr Fyfe stated.

“He is had 25 operations in his profession, as you become old in something it is fairly laborious work, however he is such a decided character.

He pointed to the 2013 Grand Closing and the extent of assist for his son from Fremantle and different supporters as a specific spotlight.

“Now we have to thank Nat for bringing us on the journey,” Mr Fyfe stated.

“It is had fairly a number of highs and lows, nevertheless it’s been numerous enjoyable.”

Requested what the longer term holds for his son, who has labored for his trucking enterprise in earlier off-seasons, Mr Fyfe stated he had earned the downtime.

“I reckon the very first thing he’ll do is develop his hair and log on for a 12 months, however that is as much as him,” he stated.

“Sixteen years is a very long time to be held to account.”

WA Premier Roger Prepare dinner paid tribute to Fyfe on social media.

“Nat Fyfe is a Western Australian sporting legend,” he wrote.

“One of many best Fremantle Dockers gamers of all time, Fyfe was lauded by his teammates, different gamers and followers and has introduced a lot success to the state.

“He leaves behind an unimaginable legacy, on and off the footy subject.”

On the Lake Grace-Pingrup Bombers, the place Fyfe performed his junior footy, Head Coach Luke Bairstow stated he would like to see him make an eventual return.

“It might be nice to see him with the colors again on once more,” Bairstow stated.

He stated Fyfe by no means overpassed his nation beginnings, and he was hopeful the area people would discover a approach to pay tribute.

“Even earlier than Brownlow time, he’d at all times be again,” he stated.

“We had the banner on the pub for 2015, so I am certain there will be one thing between the footy membership and the shire.”