Brownlow medallist Nathan Fyfe is poised to be the next captain of the Fremantle Dockers.
Fyfe is understood to be rising as a front-runner among his teammates to win a players' election expected to be conducted before the end of this month.
![David Mundy and Ross Lyon have had to address rumours around Nat Fyfe.](/web/20170120094521im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/t/p/5/2/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtvjh4.png/1484886980365.jpg)
The announcement of Fremantle's ninth official captain is predicted to be made right after next week's Australia Day celebration weekend.
Such an endorsement of the champion midfielder is expected to substantially strengthen prospects that Fyfe stays a Docker beyond 2017, when the brilliant play-maker will be out of contract and could go on the market as a restricted free agent.
He is Fremantle's highest paid player on an estimated $800,000 in the final season of his contract, but is tipped to launch straight to around $1.2million-a-year on his next deal.
Fyfe is certain to attract even bigger offers to consider any move interstate for a substantial period of time to potentially end his career away from Fremantle.
It will be significantly more enticing for Fyfe to stay at Fremantle on a long term contract if he is locked away as captain.
The Dockers top player has also made it blatantly clear in public comment and apparently during in-house discussions on his own future that he is more likely to remain with Fremantle if a premiership appears within reach to cap his blossoming career.
![Fremantle's Nat Fyfe wins the 2015 Brownlow Medal.](/web/20170120094521im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/n/g/a/a/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtvjh4.png/1484886980365.jpg)
Just last year the superstar on-baller was centre of raging allegations that he was unpopular among his peers in on-going unrest within the Dockers playing group.
He was beaten last January in a vote for captain when veteran David Mundy was elected to replace Dockers icon Matthew Pavlich after he stood down ahead of his last season as a player.
![Nat Fyfe.](/web/20170120094521im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/y/7/t/z/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtvjh4.png/1484886980365.jpg)
Fyfe, 25, is now believed to be firmly favoured as the new skipper.
His selection as player's favourite is believed to have the full endorsement of head coach Ross Lyon.
Fyfe has also been highly conspicuous in building solid relations with key parts of the Dockers playing group and with those considered pivotal to building any sustained finals presence and getting back into premiership calculations.
A recent weekend bonding session to Perth's holiday resort at Rottnest for a batch of Dockers midfield candidates and rising stars is believed to have been initiated and encouraged by Fyfe.
The day time boat trip and social get-together has been widely considered as a significant gesture from the budding new skipper in expressing his leadership potential and consideration as captaincy material.
Election of a new Dockers captain appears a clear-cut race between two top candidates with classy forward Michael Walters, veteran big man Aaron Sandilands, influential midfielder Stephen Hill and tough defender Lee Spurr all likely to poll hefty votes and finish among a leadership team.
A crucial crop of newcomers from a successful Dockers recruiting coup at the end of last season - when Fremantle plummeted from premiership fancies to finish a dismal 16th with just four wins - is also expected to support Fyfe's appointment.
Dockers players vote on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis for their preferred captain and an official leadership team is formed from minor placings in the process.
Fyfe is understood to have attracted considerable cachet as a top leader over summer training, especially in his own comeback from a serious setback last season when the reigning Brownlow medallist did not play from Round 5 due to a broken leg.
His primary strength in his claims is match-day leadership appeal and the ability to inspire and instigate on field deeds as one of the game's finest players.
Mundy, 31, is believed to be resigned to losing the captaincy after just one season.
If Mundy is voted out as captain the 251-game veteran will be a casualty in a significant departure of apparent support with a substantial turnover of senior Dockers at the end of the horrible 2017.
Pavlich retired while experienced and highly regarded servants Chris Mayne, Michael Barlow, Matt de Boer, Tendai Mzungu, Alex Silvagni, Clancee Pearce, Anthony Morabito and Jack Hannath have all departed and were apparent devotees of Mundy as captain.
The Dockers voting process is conducted with a declaration of each player's allocation verbally in front of the entire assembled squad and collated for a top six to form the official leadership group.
Top tally wins the captaincy, while it is understood that new draftees and rookies do not vote.