Fremantle Dockers set to keep Nat Fyfe at full forward despite struggles against St Kilda

Fremantle are set to persist with Nat Fyfe as a permanent forward despite the move splitting the opinion of the AFL world after a forgettable performance against St Kilda on Sunday.

Fyfe, 31, kicked just the solitary behind from nine disposals as the Dockers were stunned by Ross Lyon and the Saints with a disappointing 15-point loss at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.

There were hopes the dual Brownlow medallist could find a new home deep in attack after two three-goal hauls in the pre-season, but he was not a threat as St Kilda vice-captain Callum Wilkie held him goalless.

Wilkie earned seven coaches votes for his efforts as the Dockers’ new forward line failed its first test.

Coach Justin Longmuir said on Sunday he would not “jump to any conclusions” about the loss, but admitted nothing went right.

Dual North Melbourne premiership player David King slammed Longmuir for not sending Fyfe into the midfield when the game was on the line.

“Your decision as coach to put him forward and not put him at the centre bounce at all when that game was screaming out for a change yesterday when the game needed an action, they stuck fat... for no result,” King told SEN.

“St Kilda kicked the last five goals and Fyfe was stuck forward. He’s not a forward anyway. The whole world knows he’s not a forward. But there will be a game where he kicks four goals.

“You’re putting this guy in a position where he can’t be his best.

“All you’re doing is showing that you don’t trust him anymore. You’re telling him he’s no good.

“If I was Fyfe, I’d have trouble walking to training today. ‘He (the coach) doesn’t trust me. What are we doing?’. I think it’s really poor.”

Former teammate Michael Barlow said the Dockers were likely to persist with the move for at least another week and could consider changing it to more of a midfield-forward split if they didn’t get the results they’d like.

“I think there is the ability for a hybrid forward role where he could get up the ground a bit more and pinch-hit through the midfield, I think that’s got to be explored,” Barlow told The West Australian.

“I’d be surprised if he shifts at all but then if it trends the same this week then there might be a little bit of an adjustment to what they’re doing.

“I am fairly certain they’ll stick fat. If they go the two keys then he can become that link player that can lead, run and commit with the ball.”