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00:15It doesn't matter how you feel. If you get up and do something, you're into the day. You've won already.
00:22I'm Nat Phyfe. I'm from the Dockers and I've been playing for 16 years.
00:30I've always been very focused. My greatest strength has allowed me to be the best player in Australia.
00:44Well, the big players, the big moments, the big stakes for Fremantle.
00:55Five. Nat Phyfe from the pocket for an impossible goal.
01:00Nat Phyfe was the closest thing to God there was.
01:04Phyfe breaks through. Speaking of all the time, how good is he?
01:09The athleticism, the size, the physicality, a one-man wrecking ball.
01:16The intensity, the ferocity, everything about him made him simply unstoppable.
01:23This is brilliant. What a show he's putting on.
01:28The Brownlow medal's the most prestigious individual award that AFL football offers up.
01:34Great players win Brownlow medals once, but Nat Phyfe is a two-time Brownlow winner.
01:39Phyfe separated himself, not just through talent, but through pure determination.
01:44I literally watched him play with a broken leg like it was nothing.
01:51If you are willing to put your body on the line and go all in, some great things can happen.
01:56With that sort of mentality, every week I would play as intensely, with as much purpose as I could.
02:04But my ultimate strength was my ultimate weakness.
02:23I haven't played a final in ten years.
02:27And what I've had to go through cost me.
02:31It cost me so much.
02:39I've had three major concussions, 27 operations, six shoulders, two broken legs, two knee operations,
02:48back operation, cracked sternum.
02:53My body shape's completely different.
02:56They just changed the whole way I moved.
03:00The backwards walking stuff is for my knees.
03:03The rope flow stuff is to try and give some connection with my upper and lower body.
03:09After every operation I had, I get heavy, heavy depression from six months
03:14until a point where it starts to ease and anxiety then reveals itself.
03:19But my body's saying, we can't go.
03:21But all I've ever known is to keep going.
03:27So finishing off 2024, I was done.
03:29My body wasn't allowing me to enjoy what I was doing.
03:33But it felt like we had the necessary ingredients to be a club and that could win a premiership.
03:46I want to win a premiership and I will do whatever it takes to get to where I want to
03:55go.
04:01Good morning.
04:03Bit of a modern story, I guess.
04:07We met early last year.
04:11So we've been together for just under two years.
04:15How was your walk?
04:16Now he feels amazing.
04:18Yeah, he messaged me, asked if I wanted to catch up.
04:23I thought I'm probably not going to like him.
04:26I was wary of dating someone in the public eye or an athlete.
04:30So initially we just had one date.
04:32He told me that he'd only allotted one hour and ended up going for about three or four hours.
04:38And I guess the rest is history.
04:42This is what I'll do at training today.
04:46Physically, I feel really, really good.
04:53He tried for so long to get to finals and win a premiership.
04:58In the past, he would do whatever he could at whatever cost, put his body through absolute hell.
05:05But maybe that's not going to work anymore.
05:22I'm dealing with a bit of an ankle injury and a few other things.
05:26I'm desperately keen to overcome these injuries.
05:33So, couldn't have expected lateral bruising?
05:36Yep.
05:37What I'm checking for is to see how much other damage you've got inside the rest of your joint.
05:43That was a bit jumping.
05:44A bit, yeah.
05:49So, stand up on your toes as high as you can.
05:52That's a good range.
05:53It's not too bad.
05:54They're very forgiving ligaments.
05:57I think it's actually pulled up really, really well.
05:59Okay.
06:00Cool.
06:01You happy with that?
06:01Very happy.
06:02All right.
06:03Thanks, Jess.
06:04I just want to get out here so that I can play this week.
06:09You want to feel like you're contributing to the success.
06:15And what comes with feeling different is hope.
06:25Well, Fremantle have got their season back on track.
06:28But the last time they met, it was a 61-point win to the Saints in Round 8.
06:33Fremantle Dockers are sixth on the ladder.
06:35There's nine games left.
06:38This is really where the whips get cracking.
06:40Clearly, it's been a really tough trying year for Nat Fyfe.
06:44But things are looking up for him.
06:46He's back in the 23.
06:49And there's a lot of pressure on the Fremantle Dockers.
06:51They've been in the competition for 30 years.
06:53But Fremantle Football Club have never won a premiership.
06:56They haven't featured in finals in recent years.
07:00And they're desperate to get back there.
07:03We've done the work.
07:04All year.
07:06All right.
07:06And we've got the ability to go to another level.
07:09They look like they could be a real premiership threat this year.
07:12What I want you to do is just have a chat to the guy next year.
07:14What's got you excited?
07:15Or what's given you energy?
07:17The last five years of my career have been defined by injury.
07:21Poor performance.
07:21I don't want my story to be defined by that.
07:26Last point.
07:27It's our way, lads.
07:29That's the stuff I can hang our head on at the end of the day.
07:32It's my whole adult life's work.
07:35Feels, in a way, like it hinges on being in the team for finals.
07:40Let's fucking get after it.
07:41Yeah.
07:42Very good.
07:45It's round 16, Sunday afternoon.
07:47Football in the West, Optus Stadium.
07:52And Jackson in the ruck, opposed to Marshall.
07:55As Marshall will just soccer the footy forward.
07:58So my role is sub.
07:59I can come on at any stage of the game.
08:03In that fight, that's the sub.
08:04He's as good as any.
08:06Marshall was clever.
08:07Away to Higgins.
08:08He snaps from the pocket.
08:10The Saints throw down the challenge.
08:12The Dockers have got ground to make up.
08:14They need to change up what they're doing right now.
08:17I just want to get out here and get my hands on this game.
08:19I want to be involved here.
08:20I want the ball in my hands.
08:21You're going to be on first rotation.
08:23Let's go.
08:25Big pack.
08:26Wading down Henry.
08:27Oh, it's the snap.
08:29The goal.
08:30There's a kick in it.
08:33I warmed up once or twice.
08:36Then I went to run out and warm up again and it took my calf.
08:40Fuck's sake.
08:42You're kidding me.
08:43Which is just incredibly embarrassing.
08:46Free kick below the knees.
08:47They take the advantage.
08:48They draw the ball in for Jackson.
08:50I hadn't even got on the field and I was injured.
08:52And a chance to give the Dockers the lead.
08:56He'll go long instead.
08:58They want a mark.
08:59Jackson's down.
09:00There he's got it.
09:02Jackson in the fingertips.
09:06The purple haze raps.
09:12It's a weird thing in recent seasons for 3-0 to come from behind at three-quarter time.
09:17But that is what they've done.
09:19I know he's a game of footing.
09:22Coming from behind.
09:25They want to be in and valuable, helpful.
09:28But just cannot outrun injury.
09:39I got injured sitting on the bench.
09:41I didn't even come on the ground.
09:43I just felt embarrassed.
09:45Like the whole year for me, it's just kind of been this frustrating rollercoaster.
09:50I'm starting to feel good and did a bit of a knee.
09:53I'm starting to feel good and then did the hammy.
09:55And so now we're back in that same position again.
09:57The only certain amount of control that you have as well.
10:00I've got no doubt you've wrestled with that.
10:02That's been the hardest part for years now.
10:04Like you could do everything you possibly could to get your body right.
10:09How could this club trust me?
10:11How could I trust my own body anymore?
10:15It's so far beyond being a sad story now.
10:18That felt like the end of my career.
10:22There's no doubt that Nat Fife is running out of time chasing premiership success.
10:27Then you've got Melbourne on the other hand whose season is done.
10:30And all they're really playing for is pride in the jumper.
10:41Now, how many rucks do you know that can do this?
10:43Just a one-step barrel like that.
10:48I am the captain of Melbourne Football Club.
10:51I just don't miss him anymore.
10:52I'm honoured to be in the role.
10:54It's an incredibly special role.
10:56Max Gorn leads his side.
10:58Max, the skipper.
11:00I love the role.
11:01I love relationships.
11:02I love mentoring.
11:04But it can be quite daunting being captain.
11:07I'm pretty happy to step on some toes to do what is the best for this club.
11:12I've been at the club for 16, 17 years.
11:14Which is pretty uncommon when you look around the world.
11:16Loyalty is a big factor in our football club.
11:19This has been a football club that have won one premiership in 52 years.
11:26The drop off from 2021 when they won their flag to now.
11:31Oh dear.
11:33Everything going wrong for Melbourne.
11:35Is massive decline.
11:37Melbourne are going to fall short.
11:39It's just becoming a pattern now.
11:40There's a sense of frustration around the Melbourne Football Club.
11:44And the way it wins.
11:47All the worries of the world.
11:48That man Simon Goodwin.
11:50As a club, a little disgruntled.
11:52There's an environment.
11:53Blum faces.
11:55Melbourne's officialdom speaks volumes.
11:58It's been quite a fall from grace.
12:00And nobody is really taking accountability for what is unfolding in front of their eyes.
12:22Thanks everyone.
12:24Tough day.
12:25Tough day for our football club.
12:26Um.
12:27we as a board came to a decision.
12:30We were parting ways with Simon Goodwin
12:32as a senior coach of our AFL program.
12:35Oh, look, I was disappointed.
12:36There's no doubt about that.
12:39You know, but I certainly respect the board's decision.
12:42The Demons' premiership winning coach, Simon Goodwin,
12:45has been sacked.
12:47Clearly, that club are taking a different approach
12:50and, as I said, I totally respect that decision.
12:53It brings a sharp end to his football coaching career
12:56at the Melbourne Footy Club.
12:56Just last Monday, he presented to the board.
12:59After that board meeting, he said he felt he had
13:01the full support of the board.
13:02That is clearly not the case.
13:05Good he'd been sacked.
13:06It was a pretty major secret.
13:09Oh, it's just going to be a big day, big week, big year.
13:19Am I supposed to do that regularly?
13:21Well, yeah, because you can see the bits grow up,
13:23like, filled up on there.
13:27We understand we were six and 14 at the time,
13:29but when Goody was sacked, we all got taken by surprise.
13:32I got a text message at 8.20 in the morning saying,
13:35can you jump on a call with the leadership group
13:37to discuss something?
13:38And I had no idea what it was.
13:39And so I went in totally dark.
13:41In the week before, Goody had been sacked.
13:43The noise internally was, we're backing him in.
13:46It was a serious wake-up call.
13:48You had two years in a row of poor performance.
13:50Like, it's not shocking that someone's responsible for it.
13:54When you have seasons like we have now,
13:56change is inevitable.
13:58But change of boss just gives you uncertainties.
14:00With a new CEO, new president, new coach,
14:03it's kind of like, wow, we've got a full, clean slate now.
14:06Probably other roles that will change as well, new players.
14:09My first thought was, good he backed me in.
14:11What's the next coach going to think?
14:13And it would be irresponsible to say
14:15that the culture is absolutely perfect.
14:17We've had a player banned from the game
14:18for performance-enancing drugs.
14:20We've had some other, you know, controversial stories.
14:24Culturally, we're not right.
14:26I've not led well on the ground,
14:27not led well off the ground.
14:29And you sit there and go,
14:30well, I've probably fucked up a fair bit as well, eh?
14:41At the end, the head coach really is relying on wins and losses.
14:46And we all know we're not where we want to be.
14:48You'd feel that.
14:50Yeah, it's a bit of a whirlwind.
14:54I think the decision shocked me a little bit.
14:58I'm conscious of how much stress and adversity people are under.
15:04I'm captain, and I've won Best in Ferris,
15:06and I've won All Australians.
15:08And I'm scared about the change.
15:10Imagine what the 44 players under me are feeling.
15:14So they're scared right now.
15:16I need to make sure I'm present.
15:18I'm going to make sure I'm noisy at training,
15:21I'm noisy at game day, noisy in the WhatsApp.
15:23But just make sure I'm present.
15:27It's important that I remember, first and foremost,
15:29why I'm captain of the football club.
15:31In the end, I'm a representative of my 45 players.
15:34The responsibility to lead and drive this club is on me.
15:46I don't know if football underway.
15:49Collingwood have won 11 of their last 12 against the Demons.
15:53The final game of the home and away season for the Melbourne footy club,
15:56they just want to restore some kind of pride.
15:59It has been an arduous, frustrating, enduring sort of a year for Melbourne.
16:04Let's go, welcome back.
16:05Losing their premiership coach, Simon Goodwin, along the way.
16:09Max Gorn, as the leader of this group,
16:12he wants to galvanise everybody and go out on a high.
16:17A lot to play for.
16:19It's important that we go out and do the jump proud.
16:23Friday night football underway.
16:25Gorn and Cameron.
16:27I think when crises like this happen,
16:29the players turn to their captain, Max Gorn.
16:32So he would be a player that everyone would look to for reassurance and guidance.
16:38So the halftime margin at the MCG is 13 points.
16:42Remembering Collingwood needs to win
16:44and Melbourne's last half of the season.
16:48We deserve to be here on Friday night, Friday night lights.
16:51We deserve to be in blockbuster games.
16:53But we've got to show them.
16:55This is our chance to fucking show the world that we mean business.
16:57I don't care about what's happening fucking next week.
17:00We've got to show them right in their fucking face, lads.
17:02Here we go.
17:05High stakes, a half to go in Melbourne's season.
17:09Got to take care of business here, the magpies.
17:15Keziah Pickett has got special skill.
17:20Oh, we'll do that, Cosi.
17:22Some momentum building here for the Demons.
17:25Just watching Max Gorn, there was something a little bit different
17:28just in the way that he was guiding everybody,
17:30the way that he was directing everybody
17:32and the emotion that he was showing out on the ground.
17:35You could just see that he was trying to build
17:38not just towards a win under Friday night lights,
17:40but build towards the future.
17:42Hold that side, hold that side.
17:44Here they go again.
17:45They are smacking the fight.
17:47Harvey Langford slaps it from 50.
17:49Good purchase.
17:51Goal!
17:51The endeavour, the energy has risen significantly.
17:54Hey, we spoke pre-game about the pride.
17:57OK, you've got to earn this.
18:00And it's fucking have them get after them
18:02and then do your work the other way.
18:03Let's go!
18:04Here we go, don't be scared.
18:06Don't be scared.
18:06Take the game off.
18:07Take the game off.
18:09Some nervous Collingwood fans here now.
18:14Around the body!
18:16Bounces through!
18:17Brilliant!
18:20Let's go, let's get it back.
18:21Let's get it back right now.
18:22It's a tense, anxious, nervous watch from every angle.
18:28Get on it!
18:32Get on it!
18:36Collingwood has arrested the momentum.
18:40It simply mattered too much for Collingwood.
18:51Very difficult season for Melbourne in lots of ways.
18:57They pushed Collingwood right to the line.
19:10We've just lost another close game the same way.
19:13That's what caught us in this position.
19:15That's why Goody's not here anymore.
19:16Because we can't get over the line.
19:19This game was always going to tell us a message.
19:22We're either going to lose by a bit
19:23and we're going to know how far off we are.
19:26We're either going to win
19:27and that can give us some fucking hope
19:28and pride for next year
19:31or we're going to lose a winnable game again.
19:35And we've lost a winnable game again.
19:38So we can go away
19:39for this six months before our next game.
19:42We've got to learn how to win.
19:47We're not losing these next year.
19:51We can take the pride in the performance.
19:52We've got to learn how to win.
19:55It's a clear message.
19:57Kind of glad we got it.
20:04The Dockers are their first premiership.
20:07Well, they have to get there first.
20:08Believe it or not, they can finish top
20:09or they can also finish ninth.
20:10It's how close the year is.
20:13There's about five weeks remaining
20:14in the home and away season.
20:16There is a lot at stake for Nat Fyfe.
20:17He cannot afford any mishaps in the run home.
20:21Otherwise, it could mean season over
20:23and career over.
20:28Nat injured himself in the St Kilda game.
20:31He's now found himself out of the team.
20:34Big session tomorrow.
20:35I'll train with the team for the first time.
20:38Apart of the performance, if you see this,
20:40about how long return to play looks like.
20:43But it'll be decided tomorrow.
20:46Well, I don't know how tomorrow sessions goes.
20:49But this one feels like really bad.
20:53I'm watching the calendar.
20:54As the runway gets shorter
20:56with finals just around the corner,
20:58it's critical to show
21:00still the player that can win.
21:02I want to finish this story.
21:04I want to be on the ground
21:05when we win the grand final,
21:07which at this point seems so far off.
21:12But it's what still motivates me.
21:15And I'm not ready to give up on that just yet.
21:18It's also not stopping control.
21:20So you're focusing on what's now
21:22and what you can do.
21:24When he sets his mind to something,
21:26he becomes so fixated.
21:28It is tough for him to see a different perspective.
21:31Is it the right thing to keep pushing
21:34even when, you know, it's injury after injury
21:37and hurdle after hurdle?
21:38If they said we can play you this week,
21:40would you think that it's too soon?
21:43You're a different player now
21:45to what you were back then.
21:46That might result in injury again.
21:50I don't want my story to be defined
21:52by frustration and helplessness
21:56that comes with injury.
21:57I've come this far.
21:58I can't just stop here and die on the hill.
22:00If I feel like me and I could play,
22:02my body can do what my mind wants it to do.
22:05No issues.
22:12All right.
22:13Yeah, so here.
22:14Drive.
22:15Drive.
22:16And then drive.
22:18Right.
22:23Whoa!
22:24Has he left a run too late?
22:26Maybe.
22:26Maybe not, though.
22:27Not mine too.
22:29Just chatting with Swaggy.
22:35Ah, I feel good.
22:39Nat sent a message through to myself and JL last night
22:43asking about whether there was potential
22:44to look at this weekend.
22:47After, unfortunately, his body let him down
22:49when he played in that sub role,
22:51and I think there's an element of the confidence
22:53that we need from Nat
22:56in understanding that his body can get through
22:58a game of AFL.
23:00Yeah!
23:01Yeah!
23:03The risk versus the reward.
23:06Because the element of risk,
23:07if he was to come back,
23:08he has another significant injury,
23:09then it almost puts an end to the year.
23:25Oh, fuck now, man.
23:30Are you fucking kidding?
23:34I just caulked myself.
23:38You're kidding me.
23:43I'm not going to be able to go.
23:45I've just done that tackle with Andy.
23:47I've just caulked my left quad.
23:50Fuck's sake.
23:59Hey, mate.
24:00I'm talking to you about your message last night.
24:03I think from JL's perspective as well,
24:06like, it does feel a little bit rushed.
24:09From a selection perspective,
24:11it's a requirement that you get through
24:13a game of Waffle.
24:15Get your eye on it.
24:16Make sure I'm not taking any risks.
24:19We'll work through what that looks like.
24:20Yeah.
24:21And continue to build, mate.
24:23All right.
24:23Cool.
24:24All right.
24:24Thank you, mate.
24:27Waffle is our second-tier competition.
24:32It's a state-level competition.
24:34To see an absolute champion of the AFL to go back and have to earn his spot through the
24:40state league, that's like LeBron James playing in the G leagues.
24:44Thank you so much for that.
24:46Of course.
24:46Most welcome.
24:47Thanks.
24:47Playing in the Waffle, it's embarrassing to know where my career has got to,
24:51but it keeps the pathway open to get back in the team.
24:54This is as critical as any other part in the next few weeks.
25:00In moments like this, you really see the true mental strength and character of a player.
25:07That was always my mantra of,
25:09I will do whatever it takes to get to where I want to go.
25:18Work ethic was something that was ingrained really early and just became everything for
25:24me in my footy career.
25:26My dad and mum have a transport business.
25:29From as early as I can remember, we'd go in the truck with dad.
25:33The most exciting thing that could happen to us was if he was doing an overnight trip somewhere
25:37and we could go with him and stay in the truck.
25:43We used to get home late at night.
25:46No matter what time it was, whether it was raining, how exhausted everyone was,
25:51he'd always go in, fuel the truck up and wash the taillights and the windscreen
25:56and then put it away because we'd have to go again first thing in the morning
26:01when he'd have to go again.
26:06And that small lesson of when you don't feel like doing it, just do it.
26:11Do the hard things.
26:12You'll thank yourself tomorrow.
26:14He just never missed on that.
26:16I just cannot think of an example where he ever missed on those small things.
26:37The Fremantle Dockers need Nat Fyfe to be able to prove to them that he can get through
26:43a game.
26:43So the next best thing is the waffle.
26:47Nat can't afford any more hiccups with his body.
26:54Oh my God.
26:58A bit muddy.
27:00Not the nicest looking ground, is it?
27:02It feels like the dice is loaded.
27:04The weather is atrocious.
27:06It's going to be really difficult, muddy, treacherous conditions.
27:09Plus, as an AFL player, you've always got a target on your back.
27:12It felt like I was playing country footy again.
27:15It is an absolute swimming pool.
27:18I don't want him playing because I don't want him risking injury.
27:21How are you playing?
27:22Number 16.
27:2316?
27:24Yeah.
27:24Thank you, mate.
27:25This game feels like it's my last shot.
27:28One missed week could destroy any chance I have for getting back in the team.
27:32At the end of the day, we're not playing the fucking weather.
27:35We're playing Claremont.
27:36All right?
27:37All right.
27:50Let's go, Thunder!
27:56I knew that it was going to be really difficult, but I didn't quite know how intense it's going
28:01to be.
28:02What's up?
28:03It's ferocious.
28:04It's combative.
28:06The approach to the game becomes survival.
28:11How's he been going out there?
28:12It can be quite confronting, like being so close to it.
28:16It's like you want to yell out, like, get off it.
28:20It is quite an emotional experience watching someone you love risking injury.
28:28Most of my thinking is around how confident I am in my body and how I deal with contact.
28:35Do I need to hide and just do bare minimum?
28:53It's always confronting coming back, but a lot of confidence can come from a big tackle
28:58like that.
28:59Yeah, no, I think I'm good.
29:03Yeah, I'm fresh, I'm fresh.
29:04My body started to wake back up again.
29:09There we go.
29:11It's moving pretty well.
29:13Just like, yeah, watching the way he runs, he's looking pretty comfortable.
29:17Just like going for a few overhead marks and stuff, like, yeah, look at that.
29:20He's still got it.
29:21Because I wasn't sure if he could get back to playing like this.
29:25And it's not just about him, you know, getting himself ready to play.
29:28Like, he's got to get pigged.
29:29And what he's doing now, you know, he's putting his hand up.
29:38I thought he played above the level.
29:40Yeah, it showed that he was ready to return.
29:59This is the big finish.
30:01This is a meeting with footy manager, high performance, tell us what we do in the off-season.
30:08Melbourne is a very proud club.
30:10They've got a long way to go.
30:12But ultimately, they'd love to win a grand final next year.
30:16New coach coming in.
30:18A few things are changing.
30:20It's a massive time.
30:23We want a coach that can deliver us another one of these.
30:28A couple of weeks ago, I said this is the last opportunity we'll all be in the room together as
30:31a group.
30:33And I asked a bit out of the group to tip in and see if we can get some results.
30:37We didn't quite get them, but we all know how we were able to go through those three weeks.
30:41I'm incredibly proud of the group.
30:42So I just want to say thanks.
30:45Max and myself feel like this is the team that can take us to Premiership Heights.
30:51I know our best is capable of beating the best, but it's about being consistent with it and bringing it
30:58out every single week.
31:00So we're all guns blazing for 26.
31:02It's going to be a pretty special time.
31:03Day one, you get a chance to start clean and you get to do a clean slate with a new
31:07coach.
31:07And you get to land a first impression and show the new boss where you want to go to in
31:12your career.
31:13That's a pretty inspiring part.
31:17To be honest, Max has been unbelievable as a leader.
31:20What he's given to each person that walks through the doors of the Melbourne Football Club and that will walk
31:25through the footy club.
31:27He's not going to have much left in the tank when he's done.
31:30And I hope for him that he gets the opportunity to lift it once more.
31:44It's so confusing right now.
31:45It's just a bit of a rollercoaster of emotion.
31:48Winning a Premiership, that's the only goal left that I really want to achieve.
31:56I'm back in the team, so the door stays open to the dream of winning a Premiership.
32:01But right now, it's weird to consider it an achievement.
32:04I don't know, hope feels foolish.
32:07It's kind of, what's the point?
32:09Yeah.
32:11Does it make you want to run away?
32:13It was honestly more relief than it was excitement and pride.
32:18You have done everything that you can to work on yourself and get your body right.
32:24And then you keep going and going and it's, where is the end?
32:28Where are you finally satisfied that you've achieved all that you can and that you're happy
32:33with what you've done?
32:33Where's enough?
32:34Or does that ever happen?
32:36Well...
32:38Football has been everything that he's known in his adult life.
32:42But I want him to be able to see this life outside of football.
32:48Can we not flip it?
32:49Can we not go, it's not this never-ending period of, will I get back?
32:54It's, I've got this finite period of time, possibly, let's just go all in, let's go for it.
33:01He is struggling with where his purpose still lies.
33:05Is this something that he needs to continue doing or would he be better served to move
33:11past football and look at what the rest of his life is after it?
33:17I've had an amazing journey.
33:19The game has been incredibly gracious to us.
33:24No matter what happens, he's always going to be happy to see you.
33:51I'm just going to get Nat to come out the front.
33:54Thanks, Joey.
33:55I want to keep this tight because otherwise I'll get a bit emotional.
33:58After getting back on the weekend and making a successful return, this is the right time
34:02to announce that this will be my last year.
34:05It's been an amazing journey and I feel like there's just still one last epic chapter to
34:12finish off right now on the edge of the finals with a couple of games to go.
34:17We're on the edge of doing the thing that I have dreamt of doing for 16 years.
34:23So if I could ask us all in the room to do anything from here, it's just to stay in
34:27the moment,
34:28embrace everything that comes with the challenge of the next however many weeks.
34:35And let's go fucking win that cup.
34:43And that has one last shot now, one last roll of the dice.
34:48This is it.
34:58How are you, brother?
35:02Feeling all right?
35:02Yeah.
35:04Excited.
35:05First final.
35:08Should be a small crowd, so that's all right.
35:15Fuck, it's great to be playing this time of the year, all right?
35:18But I guarantee you the game tonight won't ask any other questions that you haven't already
35:22answered throughout the year.
35:23The Fremantle Dockers are not regularly finals participants.
35:27So for them, this is huge.
35:29Whatever the game throws at us, keep coming back to our way.
35:33Fremantle win and they get on a roll, they have a red hot chance of winning the premiership.
35:38The game's going to be chaotic.
35:40Yeah, contest is king early.
35:42But an elimination final is exactly that.
35:45You lose and you're out.
35:49Now, for a guy that's already announced his retirement, right here, right now, doesn't
35:55get much bigger.
36:07Fremantle, the Dockers Suns.
36:10There's no tomorrow, so this is all at stake.
36:13It's going to be on tonight.
36:14Oh, this is so huge.
36:17This is a full of the stadium here today for the Dockers, and that's for the last time
36:21they'll see Nate fight here, too.
36:24Here we go.
36:26You just enjoy it.
36:27Trust it.
36:28Work with someone.
36:29Keep tuning up.
36:31All right.
36:33Wet and wild in the West.
36:35No tomorrow.
36:36Let's go.
36:41Pearce just couldn't glove it.
36:45Farrah.
36:46Fiorini.
36:47End to end.
36:49No.
36:50No.
36:50Now a chance.
36:51Butterick looks over the shoulder.
36:53The easiest goal he will ever kick.
36:56Four in a row to the Suns, and they lead by 25.
37:00I mean, the Suns are dominating.
37:02Fremantle are choking on the big stage.
37:07The Gold Coast Suns will take a 25-point lead into halftime.
37:13And I think Justin Lumiere will be disappointed with defensive application.
37:17Feels like every time the ball goes inside four in 50 for the Suns, they score.
37:21Instead of running that way, we should be fucking running that way.
37:36Let's go.
37:36Enjoy the challenge.
37:38Brace it.
37:40We're down by three or four goals.
37:43I just want to get out here and get my hands on this game, and I feel like I can
37:46really impact.
37:49Let's go.
38:16It does make you emotional to watch that, and you feel so...
38:21Excited for him, nervous, and so proud as well.
38:30Set out, kick, kick.
38:34Paddy Voss slams it through.
38:39Let's go.
38:40Gold Coast is still coming, but Fife almost wound back the clock.
38:45You know, it was like the Fife of old.
38:48Five.
38:49Yeah.
38:52How clean was that contestant mark from that far?
38:55I reached up, and it's stuck, and I thought, right, we are so on here.
38:59Let's get to work.
39:00Ten minutes exactly left.
39:06Yes.
39:09That's a risk of a kick, but fucking come on.
39:12Huge kick.
39:13Fremantle are turning the tide on the game, and have all the momentum.
39:17And he's gone.
39:20And he's gone.
39:22Jackson!
39:23Jackson!
39:23He's gone!
39:25They were down by 26 points for him out.
39:27And looked out.
39:29And looked out.
39:29Luke Jackson jams it through.
39:38Fremantle actually playing in the grand final, let alone winning it.
39:41It has seemed so far away until now.
39:44We've been here so many times.
39:46Only three finals have been to extra time.
39:49Are we going there?
39:51Or is there a miracle for one of these two sides of the last 70 seconds?
39:55Big ball here.
40:02Bottom man.
40:04Swallowed.
40:05Taken.
40:06Without the football.
40:08That's here.
40:10Bit switched.
40:13Come on.
40:16Can't be like this.
40:1947 seconds.
40:21He can absorb 30 of them.
40:26I don't really want to work.
40:31Swallowed.
40:32Swallowed.
40:39Swallowed.
40:46And they have won an almighty elimination final.
40:56Love you, mate.
40:57Love you too, mate.
41:02Focus.
41:03You did everything we could.
41:04I'm so sorry.
41:05No, don't be sorry, mate.
41:07It wasn't meant to be.
41:09You've come so far, isn't it?
41:11I love you, mate.
41:12It's our final.
41:13It's really.
41:15Just a deep love for the players that you play with.
41:19But, yeah, I was numb.
41:22I love you too, mate.
41:25Oh, fuck, man.
41:27I said I was going to do this thing.
41:30You were going to get to this place.
41:31I believed it with every cell in my body.
41:36And we had it.
41:46It felt like they were holding me up to show everyone that I'd failed.
41:55And we thought they were holding me up to show our lives.
42:01I knew him.
42:02He wasbound.
42:10I knew it was evil for my family.
42:17He belspenies the ceiling.
42:18And켜 to you.
42:19He was engamed.
42:25He was convictions.
42:27so it's hard to know what to say
42:31thanks for everything foffy um given you all even every last scrap
42:40every last drop that you've got you've given it so we can get done for your day
42:47yeah you'll be missed
42:52when freeman football club win their first premiership whether it's
42:55in 2025 or in the future nat fife's name will be etched in that cup i'll be telling
43:02my grandkids that i got to play with him and he's the best player i've ever played with
43:10i was kind of trying to tell him that i'm so proud of him and and that i'm here for
43:16him and
43:16that he doesn't need to keep fighting oh look i didn't love you
43:23couldn't be more proud of yeah and what's next in in your journey it's just time for general life
43:29it's a great question and if i figure that out i'll let you know
43:34nice man too boy you like the old age
43:39is there a fear in what sense no no fear just excitement
43:46it's a great moment yeah
43:55the agony and the ecstasy
43:59100 meters away you've got the pure joy and jubilation of the gold coast suns and
44:06tooke for someone like tooke miller who's been there for all the low points and there have been
44:11many of the gold coast suns it's extra special the gold coast suns have made their own history
44:17kids doing what to ride he's done for us
44:21so
44:52Transcription by ESO. Translation by —
44:53Transcription by —
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