Fremantle Dockers captain Nat Fyfe to make eagerly awaited return after long injury lay-off

Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe has made the decision to return from injury at Peel Thunder on Saturday more than a decade after his last WAFL appearance.

Fyfe met with Fremantle’s hierarchy on Tuesday after training where it was decided he would avoid the temptation of an immediate AFL return in a top-four clash against Brisbane and former teammate Lachie Neale on Sunday.

Instead, Fyfe will make his first WAFL appearance since 2010 and his first for Peel after making his debut at Claremont 12 years ago.

The Lions will host Peel at 2:10pm for the round seven clash which threatens to match Nic Naitanui’s comeback from a second knee reconstruction in 2019 as one of the most anticipated WAFL matches in recent memory.

The two-time Brownlow medallist hasn’t featured at AFL level since round 19 last year, spending more than 300 days on the sidelines overcoming shoulder and back surgeries.

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said the 30-year-old was happy with the decision and it gives him the best opportunity to build towards an AFL return.

“It was his idea to be honest. He knows his body better than anyone and he knows his confidence,” Longmuir told 7News.

“He thinks this is the right step for him to have a big crack at the second half of the year. We listened to him really.

“We’ll play him about 90 minutes which is a good progression for him. I won’t give too much away in terms of his position and what positions he’ll play but he’ll play a role that will allow him to adapt to the AFL and I think it’s really important for him to go back and get some confidence in his body and his game.

“We want to make sure we build him in the right way to have a big impact on the AFL in the second half of the season and we think this best does that.”

Longmuir said Fyfe could spend just one game at WAFL level before returning against Hawthorn in round 13, the week before Fremantle’s mid-season bye.

“We haven’t made a call on that but that would probably be the best progression,” he said.

“Whether he feels out of the game and feels like he’s really confident and taken the hits and his fitness is at a good level, we’ll be guided by him next week.”

Fyfe’s return couldn’t come at a better time with his Dockers ranked third on the AFL ladder and firming for a their first finals appearance since 2015 after racing to an 8-3 start including a season-defining victory over reigning premiers Melbourne at the MCG last Saturday.

Matt Taberner is a chance to play against Brisbane despite being subbed out of Fremantle’s win over Melbourne due to back spasms.

While the Dockers have locked away athletic rookie wingman Karl Worner until the end of 2023 after the 19-year-old signed a one-year contract extension.