Nat Fyfe: Fremantle veteran to miss multiple weeks after suffering latest injury setback in substitute's role
Fremantle star Nat Fyfe has been dealt a savage blow with the veteran ruled out for up to four weeks after straining his calf while warming up against St Kilda on Sunday.
Fyfe was named as the starting sub against the Saints but remained on the bench for the entire game. Coach Justin Longmuir revealed after the match that Fyfe had reported calf awareness while warming up at half-time but was hopeful he hadn't done too much damage.
The news was all bad for the dual Brownlow medallist though after learning he had suffered a strain that will keep him out of action for between two and four weeks.
'Obviously frustrating for Nat after he was able to get some continuity with his body in the last month' said Fremantle Executive General Manager of Football Joe Brierty.
'He will now commence an offloading and reconditioning period and our performance health team will set the program with Nat to return to football in the next few weeks.'
The injury comes at a horrible time for Fyfe. He worked hard to recover from knee and hamstring injuries and showed he could have an impact as the sub.
But now he will almost certainly have to re-build fitness and confidence in the WAFL before having another opportunity to play at the highest level.
The Dockers have won six games in a row and also have Jaeger O'Meara already trying to get back in the team. Star Hayden Young is on a similar timeframe to Fyfe adding more selection pressure.
Fyfe hasn't played a final since 2015. He missed Fremantle's 2022 finals run due to injury.
Out of contract at the end of the season, the injury will also make it hard for Fyfe to become just the fourth Docker to play 250 games behind David Mundy, Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands. He is currently sitting on 244 matches.
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