FREMANTLE superstar Nat Fyfe says he will continue to be a demanding leader despite some questions being raised publicly about his relationship with some of his teammates.
The reigning Brownlow medallist is the youngest member of the Dockers' leadership group and skipper David Mundy stated in August that Fyfe had a demanding leadership style that "sometimes may get people offside."
Speaking at the AFL Players' Association MVP awards on Wednesday, Fyfe said he would continue to lead in a demanding manner despite the external criticism.
"It's been hard to take some of the criticisms," Fyfe told Fox Footy.
"I've found it a little bit unfair at times. But that's the nature of the business.
"I won't shy away from being a demanding leader. But the relationship I have with all the players and coaches is really healthy and as a high-performing organisation, that's what we need of our leaders and our players."
Despite not playing since he fractured his leg for the second time back in round five, Fyfe has endured a turbulent season.
The reigning two-time AFLPA MVP also made headlines in August when he declared he would assess his free agency options once his current contract expires at the end of 2017.
Fyfe, 24, then clarified his comments in a statement two weeks later saying that he didn't want there to be any doubt that he saw his future at Fremantle.
"I probably learnt some things from the comments I made earlier, perhaps taken slightly out of context and blown out of proportion," Fyfe said on Wednesday.
"But certainly I wanted to deliver a message to our members and fans that I've been a purple player for the last seven years, I love playing for Freo, I'm really excited about being a key part of the driving force for the next period of time and excited at what our group can do. So I really had to put those rumours to bed."
Fyfe was asked on Wednesday if he would stay at Fremantle for his entire career.
"It's not a question I can answer," Fyfe said.
"Ideal world, yes, and ideal world I'm part of the first premiership team at Fremantle and that's what all my focus is going towards at the moment."
Fyfe said his rehabilitation was going well and he was firmly set on returning for round one next year. He has had the rod removed from his leg and has begun running and weights again, and should be right for the start of the pre-season.
Fyfe said he was confident he would get back to his best and had even sought out two-time Brownlow medallist Greg Williams for advice at the MVP awards.
"I'm really optimistic," Fyfe said.
"This year has been frustrating but it's given my body a chance to recover and heal. Not just my leg, but my back, my groin, all areas.
"So hopefully that gives me some longevity. I spoke to Greg Williams tonight. He won a Brownlow eight years apart from his first one and he spoke about how in the back half of his career he had to change slightly the way he trained and prepared and that's something I'm going to have to do. But I've got full confidence I'll be back to my best, if not better."
