Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Jye Amiss has been praised for playing like a “real big man” this year as the Fremantle forward gears up for Thursday night’s qualifying final against Hawthorn in Perth.
Amiss was a skinny 19-year-old when he made his finals debut in 2022 in what was just his second AFL game.
The 196cm key forward kicked two goals in that elimination-final win over the Western Bulldogs, but he was held scoreless a week later as Fremantle crashed out to Collingwood.
A haul of 41 goals in his second season had Amiss touted as a future superstar, but rival teams soon figured out they could keep him quiet by outmuscling him.
Not anymore.
Spurred on by fellow key forwards and gym heavyweights Patrick Voss and Josh Treacy, Amiss entered 2026 noticeably bigger and stronger.
It’s allowed him to ragdoll opponents rather than be on the receiving end, with his increased strength leading to a career-best 58 goals this season.
“His aggression and physicality has gone to another level,” Treacy said.
“He’s playing like a real big man this year, and I love seeing that out of him.
“He’s a lot stronger. I think it’s been accumulating over a number of years now, and it’s finally come to the forefront of his game this year, which has been great.
“And it helps that we’ve got some serious key backs to train on as well.”
Fremantle’s three-pronged attack of Amiss, Treacy and Voss has proved near on impossible to stop this year, with the trio combining for 153 goals in 2026.
And the small forwards have also joined in on the fun, with Isaiah Dudley kicking 28 goals, Michael Frederick 23 and Shai Bolton 21.
An added bonus has been ruckman Luke Jackson’s 24-goal haul, with the glut of goalkickers giving Fremantle plenty of avenues to kick a winning score beyond the big three of Amiss, Treacy and Voss.
“It’s certainly more than just us three, that’s for sure,” Treacy said.
“And you’re not just valued for how many goals you kick.
“I think that holds us in a really good position to be able to attack most teams, most weeks. You might be able to shut a couple down, but you can’t shut all of us down.”
Hawthorn enter Thursday’s clash buoyed by the fact they almost toppled Fremantle in Perth in round nine.
The Dockers trailed by 19 points at the 13-minute mark of the final quarter before a five-goal, Wharfie Time-inspired burst lifted Fremantle to a 15-point win.
Minor premiers Fremantle lost two of their last three games of the home-and-away season, but they’ll be boosted by the return of Murphy Reid, Heath Chapman, Amiss and the retiring Sam Switkowski for Thursday’s blockbuster clash at a sold out Optus Stadium.
Hawthorn regain Jack Ginnivan after the small forward was grounded by a sore back for the club’s 62-point win over West Coast in Perth a fortnight ago.
The Dockers are yet to win a flag in the club’s 32-year history and the players have set their sights on becoming Fremantle immortals by snaring premiership success.
