The race is on to grow to be Fremantle’s subsequent AFL captain after Nat Fyfe made the shock determination to face down from the management group altogether.
Fyfe advised his teammates on Tuesday he was handing over the captaincy reins after six seasons within the function.
The two-time Brownlow medallist will even relinquish his function within the management group to permit different leaders to shine and provides himself extra time to concentrate on regaining health and kind.
Defender Alex Pearce and midfielder Andrew Brayshaw are the main contenders to switch Fyfe as captain, whereas rising star Caleb Serong looms as another choice.
Fyfe stated he knew about three to 4 weeks in the past it was time to step down as skipper.
“The decision was tough,” Fyfe stated.
“Last year was a challenging year for me individually, but a great year for the club and it started to pave the way for a transition.
“Intuitively, I knew that it was an thrilling alternative for the membership, for me to step apart and let another person come by way of.
“It took a while for the emotions and my mind to line up with my intuition, it feels like I was letting go of a dream in some ways.
“But as soon as I linked with that feeling, it opens up the chance for a lot extra.
“I’m optimistic about what this transition can do for the club.”
Pearce, 27, led the aspect when Fyfe was out injured final yr. His management abilities have been praised by his teammates and training employees.
Brayshaw, 23, is now one of many AFL’s finest midfielders and has been broadly seen as a captain-in-waiting for the previous few years.
Serong turns 22 on Thursday and his shares have risen dramatically over the previous two years on account of his scorching on-field kind and his robust management qualities.
Fyfe managed simply seven video games final season along with his marketing campaign hampered by shoulder, again and hamstring points.
The 31-year-old’s hopes of taking part in finals for the primary time since 2015 have been scuppered when he injured his hamstring on the eve of the membership’s finals marketing campaign.
Fyfe has been a management group member since 2015 and he hopes relinquishing a proper management title will assist give his on-field exploits a lift.
The star midfielder is predicted to spend longer stints up ahead this season and he nonetheless has a lot to be taught within the new function.
“By stepping away completely from the leadership group that allows me to focus all my energy on helping our other forwards and learning my craft again,” Fyfe stated.
“It also allows someone else to step into the leadership group potentially and give us that fresh push of leadership which will propel us forward.”
Fremantle’s new captain and management group will likely be named later this month.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
