Richmond Tigers coach Adem Yze expects Fremantle Dockers to deploy Nat Fyfe as a tagger again

Richmond are planning for Fremantle veteran Nat Fyfe to play a run-with role again this week and believe he could be sent to Tim Taranto.

Fyfe kept Isaac Heeney to a season-low 20 disposals and no goals in the Dockers’ win over Sydney on Saturday and has been roundly praised by teammates and experts for his selflessness.

The two-time Brownlow medallist paid close attention to Heeney mostly around stoppage situations in the dramatic one-point victory which catapulted the Dockers into the top four.

Tigers coach Adem Yze said having Fyfe play a defensive role is an indication of the strength of the Dockers midfield and predicted he could spend time with Taranto after Carlton also tagged him late in their clash on Sunday.

“I think so. Obviously they were playing against the top team and whether they look at us and think they need that, but we will be planning for that,” he said.

“Tim Taranto got a tag in the second half last week and the things that he did around stoppage to help others was really strong for our team.

“It just shows where they’re at. They’ve got a guy that’s won two Brownlows playing a role that is unlike what he would normally do, but it’s more for the team.

“We’re looking at that and we do the same sorts of things with our players. If that happens we will have some levers we can pull.”

Dockers coach Justin Longmuir said they would take a “horses for courses” approach to Fyfe’s role going forward.

“It’s not always going to be a tagging role for Fyfey, he has played some other roles for us which have been really important to the way we set the ground up and the way we play,” he said.

“He will have a role, just not sure what it’s going to be yet.”