FREMANTLE captain Nat Fyfe has revealed he dislocated a finger during his WAFL comeback, but it won't hold him back from taking on Hawthorn in Perth on Saturday.

Fyfe underwent back and shoulder surgeries during the off-season and is now ready to make his first AFL appearance since July last year. 

The two-time Brownlow medallist made a successful WAFL return last week for Peel Thunder, but the appearance took a toll on his already-battered body.

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"My ring finger and little finger – I had (them) operated on in the off-season," Fyfe told SEN.

"They were fingers I've both dislocated over the past couple of years.

"And 15 minutes into the first quarter (in the WAFL last week), the ring finger just popped back out, dislocated, and pretty much undid all the surgery."

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Fyfe says he will now just strap the finger, before potentially having more surgery once his AFL career is over.

Nat Fyfe at a Fremantle training session in 2022. Picture: fremantlefc.com.au

Teammate Travis Colyer described Fyfe as an inspirational leader.

"I admire the way he keeps going," Colyer said. 

"I don't admire the amount of surgeries and the bashing of his body that has occurred over his time.

"I actually didn't even know that he dislocated his finger on the weekend. So the way he carries himself and what he does through his actions is so powerful.

"You don't want to see any players get injured, but what he's been able to endure for the greater good is something that's pretty impressive."

Travis Colyer and Lachie Schultz celebrate a Fremantle goal against Geelong in R7, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos

Colyer said if Hawthorn tried to physically target Fyfe on Saturday, it could play into Fremantle's hands.

"If they do go after him, then I think that might be a positive for us, because it would mean they're potentially not focused on some other players or the contest as a whole," Colyer said.

Colyer spent the first nine seasons of his career at Essendon before making the switch to Fremantle at the end of 2018.

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His three finals appearances for Essendon all resulted in losses, and the 30-year-old hopes his luck will change this year.

"Personally I'd love to win a final," Colyer said.

"I'm getting towards the end of my career and the opportunity to play in finals is less just purely by the number of years.

"But I'm not getting carried away."