Fremantle champion Nat Fyfe is open to a full presentation of coach Ross Lyon's blueprint for a recovery but won't commit to a new contract until he's certain the Dockers are heading in the right direction.
Fyfe is out of contract at the end of the 2017 season and refuses to budge in discussions on any new deal before evidence of Lyon's plans to replenish Dockers playing stocks and renewed chances for finals success, after a disastrous 2016.
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Has Nat Fyfe grown?
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Speaking to 7 News Perth, Fyfe - a restricted free agent at the end of the 2017 season - said he would delay any decision on long-term commitment to the Dockers until he was convinced a recovery plan out of a disastrous 2016 season was appealing.
WAtoday understands Fyfe would be open to offers from other clubs if he did not believe Fremantle was able to satisfy his demands for growth or success in the near future.
"Free agency is that players have a say in their careers and it would be remiss of me not to look at every possible option," he said.
"But if I see a strong future at Fremantle then that's where I will be playing my footy."
It is understood Fyfe and his management have held preliminary discussions with Dockers chief executive Steve Rosich on a possible new deal but if he doesn't put pen to paper before next season, speculation about his plans will rage on through the winter.
The superstar ball-winner staying at Fremantle - where he is almost certain to be the side's next captain - is considered pivotal to long-range hopes of a sustained presence in finals after the Dockers plummeted out of premiership calculations this season.
Fyfe revealed he was on the brink of resuming full training after having pins in his lower left leg removed late last week from his break in Fremantle's round five loss to Carlton in Perth.
He has started light running with hopes to be completely unrestricted by the end of this month.
He will join pre-season training with the main Dockers playing group in October and does not believe the 14th surgery of his career will hinder him in the long run.
"I firmly believe I can get back to being as good, if not a better player than I was," he said.
Dockers superstar Nat Fyfe has opened up about his future at @FreoDockers #7News https://t.co/rQEGz5l7uH
— 7 News Perth (@7NewsPerth) August 10, 2016