Lyon flags changes after Freo's hiding
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon is hoping their shock 58-point loss to bottom side St Kilda at Etihad Stadium was an anomaly.
Lyon last night forecast the possibility of six changes for Thursday week's match against Carlton, with stars Hayden Ballantyne (suspension), Aaron Sandilands (back) and Stephen Hill (quad) expected to return.
"We got what we deserved," Lyon told 6PR.
"We are aiming that that's an anomaly.
"It's a sharp reminder that we're a working-class team.
"We'll get back to the basics and reinforce the basics."
Lyon said some would pay the price for the horrible performance, but wouldn't reveal which players were in the gun. He said Tom Sheridan and Hayden Crozier could be inclusions after strong WAFL performances.
"We'll certainly have Hill, Ballantyne, Sandilands and (Garrick) Ibbotson available," he said.
"We'll potentially have up to six changes."
Lyon said veteran defender Luke McPharlin had been cleared of any damage after having scans yesterday on a tight calf.
McPharlin, 32, has played just two games in the past six weeks and sat out the last quarter on Saturday after struggling to contain Rhys Stanley in his return from a minor calf injury.
Lyon did not guarantee McPharlin would play against the Blues, despite in-form trio Jarrad Waite, Lachie Henderson and Levi Casboult looming large.
"The scan is absolutely clear. We'll condition him over the next few weeks and try and build him up," Lyon said. "If he's right for the Carlton game (he'll play) but he's so important, he has got to get some confidence in his body."
Tough Blue Mitch Robinson was yesterday offered a two-match ban for his bump on North Melbourne's Leigh Adams last Friday night. Young forward Troy Menzel is likely to be available to take on Fremantle, despite picking up bone bruising in a knee against North Melbourne.
The Dockers' loss to the Saints came on the back of a six-day break.
All five of their losses in 2014 have come after six-day breaks.
They have won just one game off a six-day break this season, overcoming Richmond by 20 points at the MCG in round 13.
It is a major concern for last year's grand finalists given they face a six-day break after a trip to play Brisbane at the Gabba ahead of their round-23 clash with Port Adelaide.
"We got what we deserved ... It's a sharp reminder that we're a working-class team."" *Ross Lyon *
