With a full pre-season under his belt, Fyfe’s fitness is the best it’s been since Justin Longmuir became head coach. And it’s allowed the former captain to add more layers to his game.
“I think Fyfey has added some layers to his own game which complements his game and also complements the way we play,” Longmuir said. “I don’t think he’s solely reliant on the contest as maybe he used to be.
“He’s been able to be really diligent and add layers to his own game because he can’t be the bash and crash player he used to be. We’ve got other guys that can help him in that area so we need to spread the load.”
Longmuir praised Fyfe’s positioning around the ground. There were several instances throughout the first half when Fyfe won the ball on the inside and was able to find a teammate out wide in space, most notably setting up a Sam Switkowski goal in the second quarter.
But Longmuir is equally endeared by Fyfe’s new-found ability to work back and assist in defence.
Naturally he makes those around him walk a bit taller around him when he’s in that mode winning the ball,” Longmuir said. “There were some contests around the ground when he was able to be really clean and feed the outside.
“He’s been able to put a good body of work together with his fitness so he’s been able to work on his transition.
“Some of the contests he won today were off the back of his good transition work rather than just his stoppage work. Both ways. We want him to get forward when he gets the opportunity and we want him to work back and support the defenders when it’s his turn.
“He’s shown over pre-season he’s become really consistent with that.”