DURING Fremantle's bye prior to its round 17 clash with the Sydney Swans at the SCG, impressive youngster Nathan Fyfe was asked if he preferred being a forward or in the midfield.
"I don't think you can pin me down to one position," he replied. "I like going wherever."
And that's exactly what he did against the Swans, earning maximum votes from both coaches to remain well in the hunt for the 2011 AFL Coaches Association player of the year award.
Fyfe was everywhere for Fremantle in a vital game, finishing with 31 disposals, 22 of which were contested, eight clearances, five marks, three inside 50s, three rebound 50s and one goal.
On a wet, difficult day for football in Sydney, Fyfe repeatedly demonstrated his silky skills and couldn't be stopped by Swans coach John Longmire.
Some of the Swans' best defenders, including Craig Bird, Nick Smith and Alex Johnson, all attempted to limit the 19-year-old, but had little impact.
In just his second year in the AFL, Fyfe has been one of his club's most consistent players and Longmire said he was already among the League's elite.
"We tried a number of players on him and he beat them," Longmire said frankly after the game.
"He's just a really good player now. He's one of the better players in the competition."
Fyfe has added about 14kg and 3cm to his frame since he was drafted No.20 overall in 2009 and the results are starting to show.
He has played every game this year and boasts a team-high 390 disposals at an average of 26 per game.
His form has moved him to sixth overall in voting for the coaches award with 57 total votes, just 16 behind leader Marc Murphy of Carlton.
Fyfe did admit he's "starting to get a little bit more attention now", before scoffing at the suggestion he could be in the running for All Australian selection.
But it is clear Fyfe is a key topic of discussion when opposition teams try to work out how to beat Fremantle.
Murphy failed to receive any votes for just the fourth time this season following the Blues' loss to Collingwood in round 17, allowing the chasing pack to make up some ground.
One beneficiary was North Melbourne's Daniel Wells, who earned nine votes in the Kangaroos' victory over the Western Bulldogs to move to second with 63 votes, 10 behind Murphy.
Wells received plenty of plaudits for his performance, which included 33 possessions, but it was team-mate Jack Ziebell who earned the highest praise from coach Brad Scott.
Ziebell finished with 41 touches, 20 contested, eight clearances, eight inside 50s and six tackles to match Wells with nine coaches votes.
"One of our recruiters said to me sometimes our players are not the strongest, not the quickest and not the best kick, but he can just play," Scott said after the game.
"Jack Ziebell can just play.
"All North supporters have seen what Jack's capable of, but I think this is the first game where they can really sit back and say 'he really can play'.
"He was one of the key players in our midfield, along with Daniel Wells and Andrew Swallow."
Carlton skipper Carlton Chris Judd is in third place after picking up four votes against the Magpies, just ahead of the Western Bulldogs' Matthew Boyd and Swan Ryan O'Keefe (both 58 votes).
Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett earned seven votes in the Suns' win over Richmond, putting him 10th overall with 52 votes.
Round 17 votes
Adelaide v Essendon
10 Angus Monfries (Ess)
7 Scott Thompson (Ade)
4 Tayte Pears (Ess)
4 Rory Sloane (Adel)
4 David Zaharakis (Ess)
1 Jared Petrenko (Adel)
Richmond v Gold Coast
8 Nathan Bock (GC)
8 David Swallow (GC)
7 Gary Ablett (GC)
3 Campbell Brown (GC)
2 Chris Newman (Rich)
1 Trent Cotchin (Rich)
1 Danny Stanley (GC)
Carlton v Collingwood
7 Scott Pendlebury (Coll)
7 Dale Thomas (Coll)
4 Luke Ball (Coll)
4 Chris Judd (Carl)
4 Kade Simpson (Carl)
3 Travis Cloke (Coll)
1 Bryce Gibbs (Carl)
St Kilda v West Coast
10 Leigh Montagna (StK)
4 Raphael Clarke (StK)
4 Jason Gram (StK)
3 Nic Naitanui (WC)
3 Adam Schneider (StK)
2 Nick Dal Santo (StK)
2 Sam Fisher (StK)
1 Zac Dawson (StK)
1 Matt Priddis (WC)
Melbourne v Port Adelaide
6 Ricky Petterd (Melb)
5 James Frawley (Melb)
4 Jordie McKenzie (Melb)
4 Colin Sylvia (Melb)
3 Chad Cornes (Port)
3 Jared Rivers (Melb)
2 Jordan Gysberts (Melb)
2 Jack Trengove (Melb)
1 Matthew Thomas (Port)
Sydney Swans v Fremantle
10 Nathan Fyfe (Frem)
6 Greg Broughton (Frem)
6 Daniel Hannebery (Syd)
3 Nick Lower (Frem)
3 Luke McPharlin (Frem)
1 Hayden Ballantyne (Frem)
1 Kieren Jack (Syd)
Brisbane Lions v Geelong
10 James Podsiadly (Geel)
4 Simon Black (BL)
4 Pearce Hanley (BL)
3 Jimmy Bartel (Geel)
3 Joel Corey (Geel)
2 Todd Banfield (BL)
2 Allen Christensen (Geel)
1 Mitch Clark (BL)
1 Ashley McGrath (BL)
North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs
9 Daniel Wells (NM)
9 Jack Ziebell (NM)
6 Drew Petrie (NM)
2 Barry Hall (WB)
2 Callan Ward (WB)
1 Robert Murphy (WB)
1 Andrew Swallow (NM)
Leaderboard
73 Marc Murphy (Carl)
63 Daniel Wells (NM)
60 Chris Judd (Carl)
58 Matthew Boyd (WB)
58 Ryan O’Keefe (Syd)
57 Nathan Fyfe (Frem)
55 Sam Mitchell (Haw)
55 Dale Thomas (Coll)
54 Scott Pendlebury (Coll)
52 Gary Ablett (GC)
