Fremantle champion Nat Fyfe will be a Docker for life after turning his back on free agency and signing a two-year deal to continue his career in purple and white.
Fyfe, 31, was set to meet the markers set for unrestricted free agents by the cessation of this season, however, after inking on at Cockburn, he will continue to lead Justin Longmuir's new breed of mids from the forefront.
“I will be signing with the club for a further two years and I'm really excited about what the next few years can bring,” Fyfe said in a statement released by Fremantle on Thursday.
“I was never going to play footy anywhere else.
“It's been an interesting previous contract for me, where we basically went through a complete list turnover and rebuild.
“I haven't played finals since 2015 and I feel there's been a lot of investment into the club and the club has invested in me.
“I like to play long games, I like payoffs in the end and I'm really hopeful that at the end of this there's a really good story.”
With his pair of Charlies, three league MVPS, trifecta of All-Australian blazers and trio of Doig Medals, Fyfe is doubtlessly one of the Dockers' most decorated servants, rivalling his former skipper Matthew Pavlich for the honour out West.
Though noted for his silky skills and fervent desire to win the ball at the coalface, injuries have hampered the star ball-winner in recent seasons, with Fyfe featuring in just 12 AFL appearances since the dawn of last season.
Since returning to Longmuir's lineup in Round 8, the Lake Grace product has begun to incrementally build up his playing time, averaging just 36.7 per cent playing time in consecutive clashes against Hawthorn, Sydney and Geelong before featuring for 80 per cent in the Dockers' win over Melbourne last weekend.
“It's been a progressive build, playing a quarter, a half, three quarters and a full game. It's a luxury we can do that with modern footy,” Fyfe added on his return from a plantar fascia injury.
“Everything feels really good and I'll be on track to play again against Richmond next week.
“I feel like I've got to catch up to speed and build some form and confidence in my roles, because I'm playing a midfield/forward mix.
“I'm enjoying being back out there in the cut throat of AFL footy again, and I've got a bunch of things I can work on now, continue to improve and hopefully at the back end of the year play some really good footy.”
Fyfe and his Fremantle teammates will enjoy the bye in Round 12 before readying themselves to face Richmond at Optus Stadium on Saturday, June 10.