By Justin Chadwick
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has opened the door for Nat Fyfe to return to his customary midfield role as the under-fire Dockers attempt to fix their woes in the clinches.
The club’s finals hopes are already on thin ice after opening the AFL season with four defeats in their first six matches.
Fyfe has been grounded by a plantar fasciitis injury since tallying just 0.1 from nine possessions in the round-one loss to St Kilda, and he will definitely miss Saturday’s clash with Brisbane at the Gabba.
Nat Fyfe has been on the sidelines.Credit: AFL Photos
But if the two-time Brownlow medallist is able to complete a heavy training load this weekend, he could return for next week’s home encounter with Hawthorn.
Fyfe, who trained away from the main group in sneakers on Wednesday, had been slated to play the entire season as a forward.
But with the Dockers crying out for a big-bodied ball-winner to help with vital clearances and hard-ball gets, Longmuir will consider sending Fyfe back to the coalface when the 31-year-old is ready.
“It’s always been in our thinking,” Longmuir said.
“It’s always been (the plan to) get him embedded in his forward role, we’ll get him comfortable down there and confident down there, and then we can expand his role.
“He’s a good clearance player. He had a bit of a sore foot in round one, when he played his only game of the year. So we haven’t been able to explore that.
“But we’ll put him where he can play to his best.”
The leadership of new captain Alex Pearce has been widely panned since his error-laden performance against the Bulldogs last week.
Pearce’s attempt to physically intimidate former Docker Rory Lobb before the opening bounce was also heavily criticised.
Rory Lobb was the centre of attention throughout the match.Credit: Paul Kane, Getty Images
Longmuir felt the flak aimed at Pearce was unfair.
“He’s leading really well,” Longmuir said. “Players really respect and admire him. (The criticism) is over the line.
“When you lose, you get criticised whatever you do.
“There were isolated incidents on the weekend where Lobb came under some attention, some instigated by Lobby as well.
“So you want us to fight back or not? It’s just one of those things. When you lose, you get criticised left, right and centre.”
Fremantle will be without Michael Frederick (adductor) against the in-form Lions, but Sam Switkowski and Heath Chapman are strong chances to return from calf injuries.
Longmuir said he retained faith in his side, despite the shaky start.
“We can’t get caught up in making statements and pressing panic buttons and get caught up in what critics are saying,” he said.
“I’m not going to throw the baby out with the bath water. I’m not going to panic.
“We’ll stick to the course and see if we can get more weight of numbers executing their roles.”
