Freo on a roll, says Lyon
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon insists his side’s outstanding form is “sustainable”, declaring the more the undefeated Dockers won, the harder it would be to lose.
The Dockers yesterday named an unchanged side as they look to extend their 2015 run to 9-0 with victory over Adelaide at Adelaide Oval tomorrow night.
Captain Matthew Pavlich was named, despite being substituted out of last week’s thrashing of North Melbourne with adductor soreness, while Tendai Mzungu was the travelling emergency.
Mzungu missed just one game under Lyon until this season when he has broken through for just one game, playing as the substitute in round four.
The sixth-placed Crows made one forced changed from the side that lost to Greater Western Sydney last week, with Ricky Henderson replacing Sam Kerridge (ankle).
A win would see Fremantle equal their club record nine-game winning streak achieved under Chris Connolly in 2006, but Lyon said their achievements needed to be put into context.
St Kilda started the 2009 season 19-0 with Lyon at the helm.
“The more you win the harder it is to lose, so not you should lose one,” Lyon said. “But I just want to put it into context, we're 8-0, we're not 18, 20 games in a row here. “We're nowhere near the levels of performance of winning as the previous organisation (St Kilda).”
“In saying that our games have the least amount of stoppages. “I think we tackle the least. “So it's not like we play a brutal style. “It's certainly sustainable.”
Lyon has been impressed with Adelaide under new coach Phil Walsh.
“He's certainly brought a hard edge working without the ball and they were strong offensively already,” he said. “He had a big influence at West Coast. “He sort of, really changed their team defence from one on one to a bit more sophisticated. “He's certainly done that with Adelaide.”
Fremantle have been installed as premiership favourites, with star midfielder Nat Fyfe the toast of the football world as the runaway Brownlow fancy.
Lyon said they embraced the hype around the club.
“We don't want to sneak around in this town. “You can't sneak around in league footy. “We want to produce great players and great teams. “But team success is what will ultimately define this football club. “We've got numerous multiple best and fairest winners, but I look over and the cabinet's empty.
“So we're all fully committed to trying to bring success to the Fremantle Football Club at some point in the future.”
Lyon confirmed key defender Zac Dawson would make his return from a groin injury through Peel tomorrow, but warned he would face a tough task to force his way back into the side.
