Fingers are crossed that dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe can return to the AFL and still make an impact for Fremantle this season.

The 33-year-old played 22 games last year — equal most in his career after a difficult four-year run with injuries — but has kicked off the final season of his contract under a cloud.

Fyfe had arthroscopic knee surgery in January and dealt with soreness after three WAFL pre-season appearances, only the last of which was a full game.

After sitting out Round 1 of the WAFL season proper last week he appears likely to return to the field this weekend.

Dockers coach Justin Longmuir hinted Fyfe could come into calculations for an AFL comeback but has offered no guarantees.

The situation left The Agenda Setters panel pondering whether the former skipper would get the end he deserves.

“Nat Fyfe is heading down a sad football farewell,” Dale Thomas said on Channel 7.

Kane Cornes said he was concerned.

“I think that’s accurate. It’s always a really difficult one for champions of the game and how you exit,” he said.

“He played three games back and then he was a late withdrawal for soreness over the weekend.

“He’s just not in Fremantle’s best 22 at the moment. Now that’s not to say that he might (not) come back in later in the year and be a sub, make an impact.

“But I just don’t like seeing champions of the games finish their career playing in front of no crowd at a level like that.”

Fyfe started two games as Fremantle’s substitute in 2023 and one last year.

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His managed return to full fitness this year comes with the injury-hit Dockers considering throwing Sean Darcy (ankle/knee) and Hayden Young (hamstring) straight back into the fold.

The pair missed Fremantle’s first four games of the season but both made successful returns in the WAFL last weekend.

With Luke Jackson (hamstring), Corey Wagner (calf) and Nathan O’Discroll (ankle) all hurt in Sunday’s AFL win, Longmuir is ready to roll the dice on Darcy and Young.

“Sometimes my plans and everyone else’s plans are different, but I would like them straight back in,” Longmuir said ahead of their Gather Round clash with Richmond.

“And given we’ve got a few injuries, maybe that’s the way we have to go.

“But we’ll weigh that up during the week.”

Darcy has played just 27 AFL games across the past two years, leading many to ponder whether he was worth the six-year, big-money contract extension the Dockers handed him at the end of 2023.

Longmuir believes Darcy will again become a force in the competition.

“Let’s face it, he’s one of the best rucks in the comp,” the coach said.

“I think (that) gets lost a bit — (he’s) not just the one-hit wonder. He’s been top three rucks in the comp for a fair few years now.

“Last year, we were a better team with him in in team. So he’ll give us a lot.”

- with AAP