Superstar qualities all relative for Fyfe
DYLAN Fyfe is used to the references to his Brownlow Medal-winning namesake at Fremantle.
It’s so common that even his local paper back in Tasmania called him Nat Fyfe over the past month.
They may share a surname and play in the midfield but that’s where the similarities end between the Southport recruit and Dockers AFL captain.
“Nat is a right footer and a tall, goalkicking midfielder,” Dylan Fyfe said.
“I’m a 177cm, kick with my left and play a different style. I’m a smaller type that gets under the packs.
“I like to crack it in hard, win the contested ball and feed it to the outside runners.”
Fyfe is one of 25 new players at the Sharks and while he wasn’t able to convince his new teammates he was related to the Fremantle star, they are happy to play along.
“They call me Nat a few times out on the field as a bit of a joke – it’s good fun,” Fyfe said.
“I was actually referenced in a paper in Tassie a few weeks ago and they called me Nat.
“The guys have asked if I was any relation. I told a couple of porkies and said he was my second cousin but they never believed me.”
The 22-year-old, who played in last year’s Tasmanian State League grand final for Lauderdale, shifted to the Coast to study to become a paramedic.
He linked with fellow Tasmanian and current Coolangatta player Trey Westbury, who put him in touch with Southport co-captain Seb Tape.
Fyfe’s form during trials convinced the club to sign him on a one-year deal but the midfielder has already said he intended to stay for up to four years while juggled football and university.
Fyfe was best on ground in Southport’s first-up win over Canberra, with 26 disposals and a goal, and was in the team that beat Redland a week later.
“I’m happy with the start but that’s all it is at the moment,” Fyfe said. “The boys want to build on that.”