FROM humble beginnings at the Lake Grace Football Club to being widely regarded as the AFL’s best player, Fremantle Dockers midfielder Nat Fyfe has had a star-studded start to his career.
The Brownlow medal favourite, who played his 100th game against North Melbourne on Saturday night, has won the AFL Players Association MVP, two Fremantle best and fairest awards, been nominated for mark of the year and played in an AFL grand final.
He also dominated in his milestone match with 37 possessions and 11 clearances for the Dockers as they romped to a 73-point win against the Kangaroos. Fyfe was in the thick of the action in the first half with the 23-year-old collecting 20 touches, seven clearances and even three hit-outs by halftime.
But, Fyfe's journey all started in the small town of Lake Grace.
A small wheatbelt town with a population of around 600, Fyfe began his juniors at the Lake Grace Football Club in his fourth year of primary school.
His head coach Noel Morton, who was also his next door neighbour at the time, recalled Fyfe as a competitor like no other.
“He was a real competitor with a fierce drive,” he said.
“Every day him and my boys would come home from school and instantly start kicking the footy around.”
Morton, whose sons Jarryd, Mitch and Cale also made it to the AFL level, said there was something special about the way Fyfe approached his football, even at such a young age.
“Nat was never an overly big kid and when I was coaching him he was playing against kids two or three years older than him,” he said.
“But when he played you could always tell he was a competitor – he demanded the best out of himself and he was always throwing himself around without much regard for his body.”
Morton described Fyfe as a player with a sharp football mind who enjoyed every second on the field.
“It was easy to tell that he just loved the game. Every time he stepped onto the field he just seemed like a natural,” he said.
“He was always willing to learn and he consistently pushed himself to pick up new skills and tactics.”
Morton said Lake Grace provided the perfect base for Fyfe to grow into the footballer he has become.
“There’s always been a strong culture for football in Lake Grace and there’s always been an attachment to AFL footy,” he said.
“It gave Nat everything he needed to grow into something special.”
Morton said although he had since moved from the town, it was obvious that Lake Grace was filled with pride for their home-grown superstar.
“It’s easy to see that the team is extremely proud of how far Nat’s gone in his career,” he said.
“The people in the town love him,”
But despite all his accolades and attention, Morton said Fyfe remains a modest man.
“He’s just a really humble kid and a role model for every young footballer,” he said.
“He’s someone Lake Grace can be extremely proud of.”
Fyfe, who was selected as the 20th pick in the 2009 draft, said he was humbled to have reached the 100-game milestone and was looking forward to the rest of his career.
"It's humbling, but I see a lot of growth still in my game,” Fyfe told afl.com.au.
"A hundred games is still pretty new to the whole system and I'm excited about what 100 to 200 games looks like.
When asked how he felt his first 99 games have gone, Fyfe said he had been pretty fortunate.
"Individually I've been pretty lucky but falling short as a team in 2013 still stings," he said.
Fyfe also took a chance to thank his teammates and the club's support staff for their support.
