Fremantle skipper Nat Fyfe has undergone further shoulder surgery that is set to impact pre-season preparations for the star Docker's 2022 campaign.
The veteran midfielder has battled shoulder setbacks throughout the last several seasons, with a recent procedure having the 30-year-old face further "complications" with his surgery having "plateaued".
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The two-time Brownlow medallist was limited to just the 15 appearances this season due to a dislocated shoulder, with Fyfe now set to miss his scheduled return to training in December.
โNatโs recovery from his initial shoulder reconstruction surgery had plateaued and, as a result of that, we sent him in for a scan which indicated that there was a small crack in the bone block that forms the basis of these types of surgery," Fremantle football boss Peter Bell revealed on Tuesday.
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โWe all know how diligent Nat is and he was complying with his program very well, however these bone block fractures are known complications of this type of surgery. As a result, Nat has undergone a revision of the surgery.
โWhilst it is disappointing, we know that he will be incredibly diligent in his recovery and a return to training date will be advised in due course.โ
Fyfe hasn't played more than 21 games in a season for the Dockers since the club's grand final finish in 2013, with the contested ball-winner a key asset for his side's hopeful return to premiership contention next year.
Fremantle's five-plus year players are set to return to training on December 6, with Fyfe now facing delays and looking at a return later into the club's pre-season schedule.
