Free agent Fyfe just wants to play again

Before he considers his AFL future beyond this season, new Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe is focused on returning from his long-term injury.

Every AFL captain has a big season ahead - but consider what's coming for new Fremantle skipper Nathan Fyfe.

A huge free agency decision. Rebounding from last year's disaster. And just playing again after nearly 12 months out with a broken leg.

Fyfe and Richmond star Dustin Martin are the big names in this year's free agency market.

Former Dockers captain Matthew Pavlich is adamant that Fyfe will stay, but the 2015 Brownlow Medallist says his focus is more immediate.

He just wants to play again.

"I'm really comfortable - the way I've always dealt with contracts has been pretty predictable," Fyfe said on Thursday at the AFL captains' media session.

"At this stage, I've missed 12 months of footy.

"So I can genuinely say all my emotions are around excitement and looking forward to playing round one."

Fyfe is learning the ropes as captain and said his predecessors, Pavlich and David Mundy, are crucial.

"Pav is just someone I will use as a sounding board, particularly for the first 12 months," Fyfe said.

"David, still being in our leadership group, has a super-strong role in leadership.

"Some of my areas of weakness are his areas of strength, so we complement each other well."

If Fyfe needed any reminding about the attention that comes with his high profile, it came at last week's club season launch.

Fyfe said he felt "jealous" watching Geelong Patrick Dangerfield last season while he was injured and the media jumped on it.

Fyfe and Dangerfield, the last two Brownlow Medallists and among the AFL's very best midfielders, will renew their on-field duel on March 26 in the round-one clash at the Subiaco.

"I mean, I will be careful in the future about using the word 'jealous', but certainly as a player, sitting on the sidelines, watching any other player play footy, there is a sense of missing out," Fyfe said.

"That's overwhelmingly what I felt, watching last year, but Geelong, round one ... it will be a good game to get to."

Given Fremantle were minor premiers in 2015 and lost their first 10 games last season, they are among the more difficult teams to gauge for this year.

And Fyfe is not going to help.

Asked where he thought the Dockers sat heading into this season, he replied:

"Exactly the same as everyone else, which is great".

But he agrees with Pavlich's view that a turbulent off-season has brought the Dockers closer together as a team.

"Some difficult circumstances have helped galvanise the group - plus the acquisition of fresh players," Fyfe said.


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Source: AAP



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