The Nat Fyfe forward experiment received another big tick on Thursday night, with the Fremantle superstar starring in his side’s convincing practice match win over Port Adelaide.

Fyfe booted three goals and had a direct hand in two others as the Dockers ran out 31-point winners.

The Power threatened to run over the top of the Dockers after a fast start to the fourth quarter, but Fremantle steadied late to win 13.14 (92) to 8.13 (61).

QUARTER-BY-QUARTER REPORT

Port Adelaide drew first blood via Sam Powell-Pepper. Fox Footy commentator Adam Papalia said Powell-Pepper entered “beast mode” as he shrugged off three Dockers tacklers and snapped a tough goal from close range.

The Dockers struggled to generate fluid ball movement early in the match.

But superstar Nat Fyfe produced a bit of magic inside 50, picking up a loose ball and nailing a banana close to the pocket to give the Dockers their opening goal.

“He has looked fantastic. There’s been questions about Fremantle’s forward line and how it’ll structure up, you can see it’s around Nat Fyfe,” premiership Eagle Will Schofield told Fox Footy.

New recruit Jaeger O’Meara then made an instant impact, drifting forward to mark and convert a set-shot goal and give the Dockers an early lead.

Orazio Fantasia copped a knock to the leg from O’Meara in marking contest, with the Power small forward a little worse for wear. But he recovered and pushed forward to earn a free kick and nail a set-shot goal to reduce the Dockers’ quarter-time lead to one point.

Josh Treacy started the second term in fine style, grabbing a strong contested mark near the goalsquare and converting.

And the Dockers’ strong work inside 50 continued, with Sean Darcy producing some outstanding ruckwork to tap the ball to the advantage of a moving Sam Switkowski, who snapped a clever goal.

“That is perfect ruckwork,” Dockers legend Matthew Pavlich told Fox Footy.

The Power then responded again via Powell-Pepper, whose long-range kick dribbled through for a goal against the grain. Miles Bergman, who had a mountain of the ball in the first half, added another to draw the Power within four points.

But Fyfe delivered another classy moment just before half-time, burning off Port opponent Tom Jonas and snapping a second checkside goal to give the Dockers a 12-point lead at the major break.

It was a scrappy start to the third term until the Dockers moved the ball cleanly through the middle to Sam Sturt, who kicked a tough set-shot goal to extend Fremantle’s lead to 17 points.

Fyfe then added a third, ripping the ball off Port ruckman Scott Lycett, fending off another Power opponent and snapping another great goal.

And as the Dockers’ lead extended to 23 points, the Power were given an injury scare, with star forward Mitch Georgiades coming from the field with an apparent hamstring issue.

Charlie Dixon pulled off a great snap from the pocket for Port, but Treacy quickly responded for Fremantle with a lovely goal on the run to give his side a 22-point lead at the final break.

The Power got the fast start to the fourth quarter, with Trent McKenzie nailing a long-range goal on the run before recruit Francis Evans snapped an opportunistic goal to get their side to within nine points of Fremantle.

Sturt again made his presence felt, pinching the ball off Lycett just outside 50 then nailing a long goal. But Evans responded for Port at the other end, pouncing on a loose ball to get his second goal for the quarter.

The goal-for-goal trend continued as Fremantle’s midfielders linked up and found Switkowski inside 50, with the small forward converting to kick his second major.

And when Fyfe unselfishly passed to an open Matt Taberner in the goalsquare twice in the last quarter to set up a couple of Dockers goals, Freo was home.

THE 3-2-1 ...

3. FYFE’S FORWARD ‘FIREPOWER’ LAID BARE AFTER 2022 ‘TURMOIL’

If Fremantle fans had any concerns over how superstar Nat Fyfe would fit into the forward mix permanently, they needn’t fear.

For the dual Brownlow Medallist is not only fit and firing a fortnight out from Round 1, he appears primed to have a significant impact close to goal.

After an impressive three-goal outing in last week’s match simulation against Adelaide, Fyfe put in another sharp and promising performance on Friday against the Power, booting another three goals from 14 disposals and six marks. Most importantly, eight of Fyfe’s 14 touches ended up in Dockers scores.

Speaking to Fox Footy pre-game, Fyfe said his move into the forward line had been “a long time coming” and that he’d been working on finding “unconventional ways of scoring”. And all of his three goals were conjured unconventionally.

His first two majors came from checkside kicks, where he impressed with his ability to stay involved in the contest at ground level then finish cleanly. Then he showed terrific strength in the third term, ripping the ball off Port ruckman Scott Lycett, fending off another Power opponent and snapping another great goal.

Just as importantly, Fyfe directly set up two goals to teammate Matt Taberner in the final quarter.

Fyfe’s game had Fox Footy’s commentators believing the Dockers champion could have a big season.

“Is this the year he plays a permanent key forward role and kicks 40 or 50 goals? “I know a lot of Fremantle supporters at home would be hoping that’s the case,” Dockers legend Matthew Pavlich told Fox Footy.

“It sounds like he’s in a much better mindset than he was 12 months ago after coming off back surgery and shoulder issues – almost turmoil with where he was at.

“It’s a mindset thing for Nat Fyfe knowing that he doesn’t need to touch the ball 30 times to have a significant impact for his team. He can block, help, kick a couple of goals, run, pressure and only really have seven or eight touches in a half.”

Premiership Eagle Will Schofield said he enjoyed watching Fyfe’s forward craft from ground level.

“He’s moving like a forward,” Schofield told Fox Footy.

“He’s been up, he’s been back, he’s been deep and he’s been that link players as well.

“People might forget he’s won two Brownlow Medals, he’s a quality player and looking really dangerous for the Freo Dockers.

“He has looked fantastic. There’s been questions about Fremantle’s forward line and how it’ll structure up, you can see it’s around Nat Fyfe.

“He’s going to be such a livewire down there for them and give them some real firepower.”

2. TRICKY BALANCE FACING FREO AFTER BOMBSHELL TRADE

If Fremantle’s new-look forward line is the most pressing burning question for pundits ahead of the 2023 season, the new ruck combination would be a close second.

All eyes will be on Sean Darcy and new Docker Luke Jackson this season after the latter’s sensational trade from Melbourne to Fremantle during last year’s AFL exchange period.

Jackson didn’t play on Thursday night after suffering a head knock against the Crows last week. It meant Darcy essentially rucked solo for Freo – with some help from key forward Josh Treacy – against Power trio Scott Lycett, Charlie Dixon and Brynn Teakle.

And Darcy dominated, finishing with a game-high 38 hit-outs to go with 14 disposals, eight tackles and five clearances.

But when Jackson is included in the Dockers’ line-up – and the expectation is he’ll be fit for Round 1 – how he and Darcy work together, as well as the ruck-forward balance between the duo, will be fascinating. For it’s unlikely Darcy will be as dominant as he was on Thursday night when Jackson is in the same side.

But Pavlich said the rucks would not only complement each other well, but also cause headaches for opposition rucks.

“I think Sean Darcy would like to ruck more, but when you’ve got someone of the calibre of Luke Jackson … you’ve got two great assets and they’re different players,” Pavlich told Fox Footy.

“That variety can actually really help offset the opposition. You get one element of the Sean Darcy ruckwork and then you get Luke Jackson the athletic type … a different thing to throw at the opposition

“They might take a little bit of time to work out their chemistry, but it’s really important they share that duty.”

1. INJURY SCARE FOR PORT STAR AMID ROZEE’S CLINIC

Port seemed to take a cautious approach with star forward Mitch Georgiades, who was placed in cotton wool for the last quarter after an injury scare earlier in the game.

Georgiades clutched at his hamstring after chasing a ball during the third quarter of the match.

Trainers rushed out to check on the key forward, but he stayed out on the ground and seemed to be covering the ground OK.

But Georgiades came to the bench early in the last quarter and didn’t return for the rest of the match. He didn’t have any ice applied to him, but he’ll no doubt be assessed in the coming days.

After a sluggish first half, the Power began to find their rhythm in the second half and looked like they might overrun Freo in the final quarter.

All-Australian and reigning best and fairest Connor Rozee was among the Power’s better players, finishing with 25 disposals, 11 contested possessions, seven marks and seven clearances from 92 per cent game time.

“He looks like he’s gone to another level after a great season last year,” Pavlich said of Rozee.

“He’s so clean in and around the stoppage. He’s another one of these Port players where you feel if they’re going to get back into the finals, he has to have another season like he did last year.”

Schofield added: “When you get the ball in his hands, he can get through tackles, he’s clean, he doesn’t make mistakes. He’s a class above. You can see he’s cleaner than everyone – and there’s not many players like that in the AFL and he’s one of them.”

DOCKERS

B: Jordan Clark, Brandon Walker, Hayden Young

HB: Nathan Wilson, Brennan Cox, Alex Pearce

C: James Aish, Sam Sturt, Liam Henry

HF: Lachie Schultz, Matt Taberner, Caleb Serong

F: Josh Treacy, Nat Fyfe, Sam Switkowski

FOL: Sean Darcy, Andrew Brayshaw, Jaeger O’Meara

I/C: Liam Reidy, Matthew Johnson, Joel Hamling, Bailey Banfield, Ethan Hughes, Jye Amiss, Will Brodie, Heath Chapman

EMG: Neil Erasmus, Josh Corbett, Karl Worner, Travis Colyer

POWER

B: R.Burton, T.Jonas, J.Burgoyne

HB: D.Byrne-Jones, A.Aliir, D.Houston

C: M.Bergman, W.Drew, X.Duursma

HF: M.Georgiades, T.Marshall, C.Rozee

F: Z.Butters, C.Dixon, S.Powell-Pepper

FOL: S.Lycett, O.Wines, J.Horne-Francis

I/C: K.Farrell, T.McKenzie, O.Fantasia, R.Bonner, B.Teakle, F.Evans, L.Jones, J.McEntee