Fremantle Dockers veteran Nat Fyfe reveals trip to India on ‘healing journey’ has saved his career

AFL star Nat Fyfe has revealed a trip to India helped him overcome a number of injury setbacks and regain his confidence after firing on all cylinders against the Bulldogs.

Fyfe turned back the clock on Saturday evening with 37 disposals, seven clearances, one goal and 443 meters gain in his team’s 14.11 (95) to 10.11 (71) victory over the Western Bulldogs.

It was his highest number of possessions since the two-time Brownlow Medalist’s 37 disposals against Port Adelaide in Round 13 of 2019.

Before Saturday night, Fyfe hadn’t even passed the 30-possession mark since 2021, but his form is growing by the week this year and has been a huge bright spot for Fremantle.

Fyfe has had a shocking series of injuries in recent years but turned back the clock against the Bulldogs

Fyfe entered the 2024 season after four injury-plagued seasons, but he is finally fit and reaping the benefits of an extended spell without setbacks.

After the match, Fyfe told Channel 7 about his healing journey to India.

‘I have lost a lot of confidence. It felt like I was trying absolutely everything we could… Western medicine has put a stop to that,” he said.

‘So I started approaching things differently with my body.

“I went to India, did a lot of things there and I found a few people here in Perth who helped me with my healing journey and helped me gain more confidence in my body, which benefits my profession.”

When Fyfe was asked what kind of treatments he received in India, he described one exercise that involved it.

‘I can’t reveal much about it yet, but I went into a physio practice to have my foot looked at.

“I said, ‘I have a sore foot.’ The lady said ‘lift your right arm’, I said ‘that’s a bit strange’.

Fyfe says his recent trip to India has changed the way he views his body

Fyfe says he now feels a lot better and has regained his confidence

‘I began to understand how the body is completely connected. How trauma and pain can get stuck and stored in your body.

‘The difference between injury and pain and how they are different things.

‘Plus, it revolutionized the way I looked at my body.’

Dockers coach Justin Longmuir was very impressed with Fyfe’s efforts against the Bulldogs.

“We’ve seen bits and pieces of it and quarters of it,” Longmuir said of Fyfe’s hot form this year.

“We probably haven’t seen as sustained a game as what he produced from him against the Bulldogs since he came back.

“But his body of work since day one of pre-season has been phenomenal, and I’ve talked a lot about that work and how it’s getting him ready for the season.

“His ability to get his teammates involved in the game and get his possessions to contribute to us getting on the scoreboard was really good.

‘It’s good to see him getting rewarded for all his perseverance and effort.

‘He just wants to be part of a successful team. And he does everything he can to help build a successful team.’