Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir to persist with spilt role for Nat Fyfe upon return, says he’s ‘all aboard’

Nat Fyfe boldly declared in pre-season that the “experiment” of playing in the forward line was over, but Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir says it’s only just begun. Intrigue surrounds how the Dockers will deploy their two-time Brownlow medallist when he returns in the coming weeks, with the addition of Will Brodie helping the club’s engine room fire amid an impressive 7-2 start to the season. Longmuir gave the firmest indication yet that Fyfe will play a split role between midfield and forward when he makes his long-awaited season debut, most likely in the round 12 clash against Brisbane. “We’ll probably look to split his role to be honest,” he said on 6PR. “I see there is a role in our team for a player to play both (midfield and forward), and that’s probably where it sits at the moment. “We’ll just look to evolve a role for him to maximise his strengths.” Fyfe spent long periods forward in 15 games last season, but booted an inaccurate 6.21 in front of goal, and said he found it difficult to “get going” while splitting time among two positions. The Dockers skipper said before the start of the season that his time as a forward was over as he eyed a return to a permanent midfield role to help fill the hole left by Adam Cerra’s departure. “For over a decade, I’ve honed my craft as a midfielder,” Fyfe said in March. “That experiment of playing forward… it’s officially over. I’m a midfielder, and that’s where I’m playing.” While Longmuir said nothing had been locked in, the prospect of spending time forward was still very much in play. “We know he can play a number of roles,” Longmuir said. “Sometimes these calls can be made in-game when you get the right rotation. If we’re going good in midfield, then maybe he will spend more time forward. “It’s probably two or three weeks before he comes back into the senior side, so a lot can happen before now and then. We’ll lock it in closer to the time.” He was also adamant Fyfe was on board with the dual role. “He’s keen to do whatever the team needs,” Longmuir said. “He’s all aboard.”