Nat Fyfe saw signs as early as 2021 the game was starting to pass him by, but what made him so worried back then could end up taking him to the promised land in the coming weeks.
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Fyfe looms as either the fairytale or heartbreak story of the upcoming AFL finals series, with the two-time Brownlow Medal winner having just one more chance to claim an elusive flag before retiring.
The last time Fyfe tasted finals action - in 2015 - he was still at the top of his game and on the cusp of winning his first Brownlow.
Such was Fyfe's dominance at the time, he was one of the best players on the ground in that 2015 preliminary final loss to Hawthorn, despite fracturing his leg early in the game.
Fyfe would go on to win his second Brownlow in 2019, with the AFL world seemingly at his feet.
But just two years later, the then 29-year-old started seeing some worrying signs.
It was during Fremantle's 2021 pre-season campaign, with rising stars such as Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw whizzing around him, when doubts started creeping into Fyfe's mind.
"I had more than one moment over the pre-season where I thought, 'Oh, maybe I'm on the decline here watching these guys fly around'," Fyfe told AAP at the time.
"There was a pre-season training match where Serong had about six possessions on me in about five minutes, and I hadn't touched it.
"I decided to go and actually tag him so I could get myself closer to the ball. I thought this could be an official changing of the guard."
Fyfe admitted his initial reaction was of "self-interest" as he worried about his future.
But after reflecting further that night, the excitement started to grow as it dawned on him that this rising batch of young stars could finally help lift the club to premiership glory.
Four years have since passed, and Fremantle's premiership window is officially open, and unlikely to close any time soon.
Serong is now at the peak of his powers, having just won his third straight All-Australian jersey.
Brayshaw has also established himself as an A-grade midfielder.
The rest of the on-ball brigade also oozes talent, with Hayden Young, Shai Bolton, Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson all proven match-winners.Â
The forward line is stacked - led by alpha males Josh Treacy and Patrick Voss - while the backline is rock-solid.
Fremantle's 16-7 record this season would normally be enough to earn a top-four berth.
Instead, they had to scrap their way into sixth spot on the back of their final-round win over the Western Bulldogs, setting up a home elimination final against Gold Coast next Saturday night.Â
There are no guarantees Fremantle will win the flag this year. In fact, the odds are heavily stacked against the Dockers, given they will have to win four games in a row - including three on the road - to lift the cup.
But Fyfe is still daring to dream of his fairytale finish.
"I leave with a sense of understanding that I don't need anything further, which is a really peaceful place to be, and yet myself - and the team - still find ourselves in a position where that elusive premiership dream is well and truly alive." 💜— AFL (@AFL) August 11, 2025Nat Fyfe has announced he will… pic.twitter.com/igpJxXHqQ6
Matthew Pavlich is the only player who could come close to rivalling Fyfe's greatness at Fremantle.
And although coach Justin Longmuir and current players insist the finals series is no "farewell tour" for Fyfe, you can bet your bottom dollar his impending retirement is in the back of everyone's mind.
"The resilience he's shown to get back and get into this position to be in the team - it's motivating for all of us," Longmuir says.
"We want to send him out in the right way, but we need to focus on what we need to do."
Fyfe's leadership has remained as crucial as ever, even though years of injuries mean he is now largely restricted to the role of supersub.
It's a role that suits Fyfe perfectly, allowing the clearance beast to have a big impact late in games, as well as offering vital guidance from the bench before he is activated.
The soon-to-be 34-year-old has undergone an estimated 25 operations across his 16-year, 247-game career.
That would take a hell of a toll on anyone, let alone a player who bases his game on being a physical beast.
Fyfe's last hope of a flag looked shot when he injured his calf while doing a halftime warm-up as the sub in the round-16 win over St Kilda.
It came on top of knee and hamstring issues this year.
But Fyfe isn't a quitter, and just like he has done numerous times before, the three-time All-Australian worked his way back to fitness.
sit back and enjoy the very best of Nat Fyfe in the air �#foreverfyfe pic.twitter.com/w2owTpRvkJ— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) August 13, 2025
Fyfe has already urged his teammates to go and win the cup.Â
It's an unlikely outcome, but it would make for a Hollywood-style ending to what has been a mesmerising career.Â
Each of Fyfe's Brownlow wins has been followed by a next-day shirtless photo with his prized possession dangling from his neck.
Fremantle fans would love nothing more than to see a recreation of that photo - this time with a premiership medal featuring front and centre.