If, like me, you've been holding off on fully jumping aboard the Nat Fyfe bandwagon, unfortunately you don't have a choice anymore.

Fremantle's star attraction has been gathering a following since he arrived in the league in 2010, but there can't be a footy fan in the country now that isn't in awe of the 23-year-old.

The Nat Fyfe of today is almost unrecognisable from the scrawny forward the Dockers drafted in 2009. In an era of big-bodied midfielders, Fyfe is now the biggest of the lot of them - tall, bulking and with incredible core strength and balance.

Against the Cats on Sunday he was a revelation, recording 37 disposals and kicking three goals, the last of which an unstoppable solo effort that saw Fyfe break no fewer than four tackles before snapping truly from 40 metres.

His disposal, especially by foot, has been one of the few knocks on his game throughout his fledgling career but against Geelong Fyfe went at 80.6 per cent disposal efficiency and was deadly in front of goals.

The stars at 23 Nat Fyfe - 1 x AFLPA MVP, 2 x All Australian selections, 2 x club best and fairest

- 1 x AFLPA MVP, 2 x All Australian selections, 2 x club best and fairest Gary Ablett - 1 x premiership, 1 x AFLPA MVP, 1 x club best and fairest, 1 x All Australian selection

- 1 x premiership, 1 x AFLPA MVP, 1 x club best and fairest, 1 x All Australian selection Chris Judd - 1 x premiership (captain), 1 x Brownlow medal, 1 x Norm Smith medal, 1 x AFLPA MVP, 2 x All Australian selections, 2 x club best and fairest

- 1 x premiership (captain), 1 x Brownlow medal, 1 x Norm Smith medal, 1 x AFLPA MVP, 2 x All Australian selections, 2 x club best and fairest Lance Franklin - 1x premiership, 1 x Coleman medal (100 goal season), 2 x All Australian selections, 1 x club best and fairest

- 1x premiership, 1 x Coleman medal (100 goal season), 2 x All Australian selections, 1 x club best and fairest Joel Selwood - 3 x premierships, 2 x All Australian selections, 1 x club best and fairest, 1 x rising star, 1 x most courageous player

Such strong performances have brought about the inevitable comparisons and accolades, with many considering Fyfe now the best player in the league and an absolute lock-in for the Brownlow.

In fact, the claims have gone even bigger than that. The greatest player of a generation. A champion at age 23. A once in a lifetime player.

He's not the first young star to receive such plaudits, but how does the start of his career compare to the other big guns?

Fyfe turns 24 this September, with this just his fifth season of AFL football. He was named in the All Australian team in both 2013 and 2014, won Fremantle's best and fairest in both of those years and last season claimed the AFLPA's MVP award.

Not a bad return at all.

Although a shoulder injury has curtailed Gary Ablett's input in the opening rounds of this season, he is still unquestionably the benchmark for the league when fit, but at 23 years old he was only just finding his feet.

In fairness, Ablett found his feet in a pretty serious way. At 23 in 2007, Ablett moved to the midfield and won his first premiership, Geelong best and fairest, All Australian selection, MVP and a spate of media awards. Since that season, he's been the best player in the league.

Chris Judd's resume at that age is even more astounding. A Brownlow medal at 21 was followed by two West Coast best and fairest's, two All Australian selections, a Norm Smith medal, an MVP and, most importantly, a premiership medal as captain, no less.

Lance Franklin kicked 100 goals and won a Coleman at 21, while leading the Hawks to the flag in a best and fairest year. By 23 he had two All Australian guernseys under his belt, despite a slight dip in form between 2009 and 2011.

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Joel Selwood is perhaps the most decorated young player in the game's history, winning three premierships, a rising star, two All Australian's, a Geelong best and fairest and was even named the league's most courageous player to top it off. Staggering stuff.

Looking at this list of stats, it's hard to argue Fyfe is any less a player than these champions were at the same stage, although one key honour stands out - the premierships.

You ask any of these great players which honour they hold dearest, and you can bet they will name their flag in a heartbeat.

So far Fyfe has had only one fleeting glimpse of the ultimate success, and it became a day he will probably hope to forget. His effort and class on that day in 2013 were unquestioned, but most will remember those wayward shots on goal ahead of anything else.

But the beauty of the great young player is that so much of the story lies awaiting ahead of us, leaving us only to ponder the 'ifs' of the future.

If Fremantle keeps playing the way it is at present, Fyfe will get another crack at the cup very soon indeed, and should the Dockers prevail, his standing among the very peak of this era will be undisputed.

If Fyfe keeps playing the way he is now, he will be receiving a certain medal from fellow West Australian Matt Priddis in September, making him the first player in Fremantle's history to win the award.

If Fyfe continues to improve at the rate he has in the last few years, he could be anything.