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Nat Fyfe's 'incredible' act in Brownlow Medal victory speech

australian associated press

Nat Fyfe has been praised for a sensational Brownlow Medal speech in which he paid a classy tribute to sacked Dockers coach Ross Lyon.

Fyfe had the medal won with two rounds left and he topped a star-studded top 10 packed with current All-Australians and fellow Brownlow winners Patrick Dangerfield and Dustin Martin.

The Fremantle star paid rich tribute to Lyon on stage and in his media conference, predicting he would return to the game soon.

Fyfe said around December, Lyon challenged him about his pre-season training and said the onballer was going through the motions.

"That was enough of a spark to really get going," he said.

Nat Fyfe, pictured here during his impressive victory speech.
Nat Fyfe won everyone over with his victory speech. (Photo by Kelly Defina/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

"You won't be able to replace a Ross Lyon - he'll be back in footy circles in years to come, I'm sure, because he's so valuable to the game."

Fremantle are yet to appoint their next senior coach after sacking Lyon last month.

Fyfe is also yet to captain the Dockers in a final and he is determined that they rebound soon.

"I would trade this in, in a heartbeat, just for the opportunity to be able to play in another grand final," he said.

"I have no intention of going backwards for a couple of years before we regather.

"Our best footy can beat anyone."

Fyfe joins list of AFL greats

Fyfe, who also won the Brownlow in 2015, cut an impressive figure in his acceptance speech and in his media conference.

He joked on stage that his parents David and Christine, back in the small WA country town of Lake Grace, might already have gone to bed.

Fyfe said he rang his parents after the count with a borrowed phone.

"I spoke to him (Dad) briefly and then heard Mum chirp in the background 'I will speak to you tomorrow darls', so she has a sense of humour," he said.

"That's my reality, I don't know anything else, but I sort of won the lottery, where I was born, my parents, a stable family."

Nat Fyfe, pictured here with his Brownlow medal.
Nat Fyfe holds up his medal after being crowned the Brownlow medalist. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Fyfe said this had been his most consistent season and the captaincy had elevated his game.

But he came to the count with minimal expectations, given the quality of the other favourites.

"I thought I'd be in the mix, but to win outright ... I'm incredibly humbled," he said.

The AFL world flocked to social media to sing Fyfe’s praises after the speech.

NAT FYFE'S OUTSTANDING AFL SEASON

* Brownlow Medallist

* 15th player in VFL/AFL history to win the Brownlow Medal multiple times

* Second player in VFL/AFL history after Haydn Bunton Sr to accumulate more Brownlow votes than career games played

* Nine three-vote games (R1 v North Melbourne, R6 v Western Bulldogs, R7 v Adelaide, R8 v Richmond, R10 v Brisbane, R11 v Collingwood, R17 v Hawthorn, R20 v Geelong, R21 v St Kilda)

* Achieved career-high inside-50s (11 in round 21 loss to St Kilda) and marks (10 in round two loss to Gold Coast)

* Third-most contested possessions this season (351) behind leader Lachie Neale

* All-Australian captain; third All-Australian selection.