The newly minted Dockers’ captain certainly needs it, as he and his club look to turn around a horror 2016. Fremantle suffered the worst single-season fall of a reigning minor premier in AFL/VFL history, going from first to 15th.

And Fyfe went from Brownlow medallist to off the board, as a leg injury in round five ended his year. “Last season was the season from hell, collectively and individually,” he told Inside Sport.

Now charged with leading Freo back into contention, Fyfe finds inspiration from the fairy-tale run of the Western Bulldogs.

“I think the Bulldogs’ story shows that everyone starts so even,” he says. “There’s not a lot that separates teams.

“I don’t think the Bulldogs were a whole lot better than the other teams in the competition, they were just better at winning games of footy when it counted – particularly towards the end of the season.”

Incidentally, the Dockers got an idea of how good the Dogs were at the start of last season, as they met in round one and Fremantle recorded a paltry 38 points in a losing effort. Fremantle opens 2017 at home this Sunday, as Geelong makes the trip west.