Former Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe isn’t yet entertaining offers from rival clubs despite one report.
Plus North Melbourne and Essendon are getting their affairs in order.
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‘Extraordinary!’ Saints winning tactics | 03:21
FYFE STILL FREO FOCUSED
Fremantle and Nat Fyfe’s management have had preliminary discussions around a new contract despite claims the dual Brownlow medallist is open to a trade.
Fyfe, 31, has played just one of a possible four matches this season as he continues to battle a plantar fascia injury, which the club and Fyfe are monitoring daily.
A headline of an opinion piece in The West Australian last week suggested Fyfe was in “backroom trade talks” after being “pushed out as captain”, with an elusive premiership firmly in the sights of the three-time All Australian.
Senior AFL reporter Damien Barrett told Channel 9’s Footy Classified he “wouldn’t be surprised at all” if Fyfe went to a different club.
“I would think a club like St Kilda, who I believe last year made some approaches to experienced players, (would say): ‘Do you want to come and be with us as we go through this phrase?’ They may be showing enough already to be quite a viable option for Fyfe to think about,” Barrett told Footy Classified.
Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd added: “I look at maybe Brisbane and the Western Bulldogs – a couple of clubs I’m just thinking out loud here. Lincoln McCarthy and Joe Daniher have gone up to Brisbane and played just about every game … He might be thinking medical teams who have had good success.
“I don’t think Fremantle would be worried either if he left. Maybe it’s a way of freeing up a lot of money and letting Nat Fyfe go with the way (Andy) Brayshaw and (Caleb) Serong and these guys (are going). Even the Western Bulldogs, at times, could potentially look for another big-bodied midfielder.
“So it wouldn’t surprise me either if he finishes his career at a new club.”
But Fyfe’s manager – Jason Dover at TLA – told foxfooty.com.au earlier this month that those suggestions were inaccurate and that, despite interest from rival clubs, Fyfe remained committed to contract negotiations with the Dockers and was not entertaining other offers at this stage.
Fyfe will this season come to the end of the lucrative six-year deal he signed in 2017.
The Herald Sun reported on Thursday that St Kilda was expected to do “due diligence” on Fyfe, with the club now helmed by Fyfe’s former coach Ross Lyon.
ROOS START TALKS WITH YOUNG GUN
North Melbourne has reportedly started talks on a contract extension for last year’s No.4 pick George Wardlaw.
Wardlaw is pressing his case for an AFL debut with a string of impressive performances in the VFL, with AFL Media reporting the Kangaroos are keen to extend his current deal by two years, which would take him through to the end of 2026.
North Melbourne confirmed a similar deal for pick No.3 Harry Sheezel earlier this year, with the side understandably keen to avoid a repeat of the contract saga surrounding its first round pick last year, Jason Horne-Francis, who ultimately returned to South Australia just one year into his initial two-year deal.
Wardlaw has been in the mix for an AFL debut, but coach Alastair Clarkson has insisted the club would not rush him into the side before he is ready.
Freo considering WAFL return for Fyfe | 01:57
DONS’ CAP PLANS FLAGGED
Essendon reportedly has about $2 million of salary cap space, but is reluctant to trade away any of its top draft selections to lure rival players to the club.
The Bombers’ stance – reported by the Herald Sun – comes as the side makes an impressive start to the season under new coach Brad Scott, winning three of its opening four games.
Given the side is reluctant to trade its high-end draft picks, it leaves the door ajar for the pursuit of free agents.
The Bombers are the only club with multiple restricted free agents this season, with midfielder Darcy Parish and defender Mason Redman yet to be re-signed beyond 2023.
The decision of both will likely have a significant impact on the club’s salary cap.
