Dockers expect Fyfe to be back in action soon
FREMANTLE are confident Nat Fyfe won’t be sidelined for long despite the Brownlow medallist sustaining a worrying back injury at training.
Fyfe ruptured a disc in his back during Fremantle’s last day of training for 2015.
Scans reportedly revealed a bulging disc that was pushing against his spinal cord.
Although Fyfe won’t require surgery, initial reports suggested he could miss between six and eight weeks.
However, the Dockers are expecting Fyfe to resume running duties with the team when pre-season training resumes in early January.
Fremantle kick off their NAB Challenge campaign against Richmond in Mandurah on February 19, before facing Adelaide (February 28) and Geelong (March 12).
Fyfe’s latest setback continues a frustrating run of injuries for the midfielder.
The 24-year-old dealt with quad and groin issues during the second half of last season, before missing the final two games of the home-and-away campaign because of inflammation in his left leg.
He then fractured his left leg during the early stages of the preliminary final loss to Hawthorn. Despite that injury, Fyfe played out the match and was one of his team’s best players.
His status as the game’s hottest player was cemented a few days later when he held off West Coast star Matt Priddis to win his first Brownlow Medal.
Fyfe is a strong chance to take over from Matthew Pavlich as Fremantle skipper for 2016, with the player group set to vote on the leadership make-up in January.
Pavlich came close to retiring at the end of last season, and he’s set to be rested from some games in 2016 in an attempt to get him through the year.
The recruitment of star Gold Coast midfielder Harley Bennell will allow Fyfe to spend more time in attack.