Fremantle's Nat Fyfe has been suspended for the third time in two years. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: News Corp Australia
FREMANTLE has opted to appeal star midfielder Nat Fyfe's two-game suspension, with a hearing to take place tomorrow evening.
The Dockers sought an extension this afternoon as the club weighed up its options to challenge last night's AFL Tribunal ruling, which penalised Fyfe for striking Hawthorn's Jordan Lewis.
With Fremantle's top-four hopes potentially hinging on its final game of the season against fifth-placed Port Adelaide, and Michael Barlow already ruled out for a fortnight with a broken thumb, the club is desperate to have Fyfe available.
The grounds for Fremantle's appeal are not yet known.
The decision comes after Fremantle coach Ross Lyon said a still-maturing Fyfe had to learn to harness his competitive spirit in the right way following his third suspension in the past two seasons.
"He's a young player. I think what gets lost with Nathan is he's 22,'' Lyon said.
"But he's a real emerging leader at this football club. Really big influence on and off the field and he's a pleasure to coach.
"It's just that competitive spirit. It's just harnessing it in the right way. In the heat of the moment it doesn't take much to go wrong to find yourself in trouble.
"And clearly what compounds it is the system of loading and past penalties ... from an offence that was debatable anyway.
"I've got no real concerns there. Nathan's an incredibly intelligent guy, focused firmly on team success and I'm sure he'll get the balance right.''
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Forward Hayden Ballantyne is a certain inclusion to face the Lions, while midfielder Nick Suban and defender Garrick Ibbotson are also pushing strongly for a return to the team.
Lyon said the potential loss of both Fyfe and Barlow in Fremantle's engine room would be significant.
"It's not ideal, straight away you lose 60 possessions and a couple of goals,'' he said.
"But we're a no excuse football club. So I've already spoken to the players — we're squarely focused on Brisbane.
"They're in really good form and have got some top flight players and they've knocked off some finalists up there.
"We understand the magnitude of the challenge but we aim to respond powerfully.''
Lyon said he was not worried about playing a day game at the Gabba, after Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson's criticism over the conditions.
"We love the heat and the sun, coming from Perth,'' he said.
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