Massive call made on Nat Fyfe's future after Fremantle suffer heartbreaking AFL finals miss

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir says he is confident veteran midfielder Nat Fyfe will play on next season despite the Dockers failing to secure a spot in the AFL finals. On a dramatic Super Sunday, Fremantle got the slice of luck they were desperately yearning for when St Kilda beat Carlton by two points less than an hour before their final match of the regular season got underway.

A huge roar erupted around Optus Stadium ahead of the Dockers-Power clash after St Kilda's Jack Higgins scored an incredible snap goal with 12 seconds remaining to beat Carlton and put Fremantle's finals hopes firmly in their hands. The result meant Fremantle just needed to beat Port to secure eighth spot. But the Dockers couldn't do their part, with two final-quarter goals from former West Coast star Willie Rioli sinking Fremantle by 20 points, 13.9 (87) to 9.13 (67).

As the reality of another finals near-miss sunk in and fans cast an eye towards 2025, questions were immediately asked of Longmuir about the futures of Fyfe and Michael Walters at the club. The pair are both contracted for next year but after difficult seasons there has been speculation there may no longer be a spot for them at the club.

Walters, 33, managed just 17 goals in 17 games this year and was twice cut down by hamstring injuries in the second half of the season. While Fyfe managed 22 games this year - the equal most of his career - but he is no longer the star midfielder who won two Brownlow medals. There have also been growing concerns over Fyfe's kicking accuracy. But speaking after the 20-point season-ending defeat, Longmuir said he is confident both Fyfe and Walters will play on next season and as far as he is concerned both will be pulling on the Fremantle guernsey in 2025.

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"They're contracted for next year," Longmuir said. "Fyfe has played a lot of footy for us, and I think he's played a really important role for us. Sonny's (Walters) had his injury interruptions the second half of the year. I think when they've been fully fit they've impacted the team this year, and I don't see any reason why they couldn't do it next year."

Justin Longmuir says 2024 season was a missed opportunity

Looking back on their season, Longmuir described 2024 as a missed opportunity but smacked down talks that it was a wasted campaign. Sunday's loss summed up Fremantle's season - being competitive throughout but struggling to get over the line in close games. They lost seven of their eight AFL matches in 2024 that were decided by 13 points or less.

And their defeats to Essendon (one point), Geelong (11 points), GWS (nine points) and Port (20 points) to finish the season meant Fremantle became the first-ever team to go from as high as third with four games remaining to missing the finals since the top-eight system was installed in 1994. But Longmuir believes there are plenty of lessons to take out of the season that will see them return a force in 2025.

"It's not a term I'd use, wasted. You don't waste a game," Longmuir said. "It's a missed opportunity, absolutely, and there's some really clear things that let us down against the best sides, but I wouldn't use the word waste.

"We've got games into a lot of players. I think a lot of individuals have improved, taking their careers and their footy forward. To term it a waste would be disrespectful."

AFL week one finals schedule:

• Second qualifying final: Port Adelaide v Geelong - Thursday September 5, Adelaide Oval, 7.40pm

• Second elimination final: Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn - Friday September 6, MCG, 7.40pm

• First qualifying final: Sydney v GWS - Saturday September 7, SCG, 3.20pm

• First elimination final: Brisbane Lions v Carlton - Saturday September 7, Gabba, 7.30pm

with AAP