BROWNLOW medallist Nat Fyfe has hosed down talk he will leave Fremantle, saying it's just a matter of time before he signs a new deal with the Dockers.
The superstar midfielder, who comes out of contract in 2017, confirmed his commitment to the Dockers on Monday, saying his manager Jason Dover will enter discussions with the club to finalise an extension at the appropriate time.
Speculation surrounding the 24-year-old's long-term future intensified two weeks ago when Fyfe said he'll look at "every possible option" when he qualifies for free agency next year.
"I don't want there to be any doubt that I see my future here at the Fremantle Dockers," Fyfe said on Monday.
"We have a strong plan in place, with good people … and recent reports that I would consider a trade at the end of the season are completely false."
Fyfe was surprisingly beaten by David Mundy for the captaincy role during a player vote last summer.
Mundy admitted last week that Fyfe's strong leadership style had the potential to put teammates "off side" at times.
But the Dockers still view Fyfe as a future captain at the club, and a core part of their plans to get back into premiership mode.
"Nat, who has always shown a strong commitment to Fremantle, is an outstanding player, a quality person and a great leader," chief executive Steve Rosich said.
Fremantle started 2016 as one of the premiership favourites, but they will end the year with one of the worst win-loss records in club history.
The Dockers have won just three of their 21 games going into Sunday's final-round clash with the Bulldogs.
Rumours of player unrest had unsettled the club in recent weeks, while the coaching style of Ross Lyon also came under the spotlight.
Some experts suggest Lyon's unrelenting methods eventually burn players out, but the veteran coach scoffed at that theory last week, saying some players even view him as a father figure.
The Dockers are set to make sweeping changes to their list at the end of the season.
Club legend Matthew Pavlich will retire, while Hayden Ballantyne, Chris Mayne, Ed Langdon, Zac Clarke, Nick Suban, Michael Barlow, and Garrick Ibbotson could be on the move.
Players such as Anthony Morabito, Tendai Mzungu, Matt de Boer, Clancee Pearce, and Jack Hannath are in danger of being delisted.
Fyfe has been sidelined since breaking his left leg for a second time in round five.
The 117-game midfielder first broke the leg in the Dockers' 2015 preliminary final loss to Hawthorn.