Ross Lyon slams Fremantle’s ‘mediocrity’ after heavy loss to Western Bulldogs
After his team slumped to its fifth loss in six matches, Ross Lyon conceded “there’s a lot of mediocrity” about Fremantle’s poor run which has cruelled its finals hopes.
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Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has slammed his team’s “mediocrity”, expressing his disappointment at the Dockers’ failure to grasp an opportunity to keep itself in the finals mix.
While admitting he might have not got things right at the selection table by picking two ruckman in Sean Darcy and Aaron Sandilands along with forward-ruckman Rory Lobb, Lyon said his team had simply been outworked by a Bulldogs team that wanted the ball more in a 47-point defeat.
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“In the ground ball (count) I think we were minus 30 at halftime, minus 15 at quarter-time,” Lyon said.
“And I think on the spread they outnumbered and they spread the ball.
“Were we a little bit tall? Maybe, but we needed some height in our front half. I thought Lobb looked dangerous but the two ruckmen was probably a little bit too much.”
Sandilands and Darcy combined for just 20 disposals and four marks, but the Dockers’ primary issue was their midfield, which was beaten in the inside-50 count 59-44.
Captain Nat Fyfe started in the forward line with little impact in the opening quarter as the Bulldogs put on eight opening-term goals.
However, Lyon said a serious infection of the skipper’s elbow which kept him out of last week’s win over Sydney had played a factor in that decision.
“He was clear to play but it was an incredibly serious infection,” Lyon said.
“The specialist said regardless of that (Fyfe’s toughness) there will be an aerobic effect and it’s brutal, AFL football.”
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The Dockers have lost five of their past six matches, dropping from sixth on the ladder at Round 13 to now sit one game and percentage outside of the top-eight in 12th spot.
“There’s a lot of mediocrity around and we sit in that,” Lyon said.
“All the other teams that had opportunities didn’t take it. I think there will be a number of coaches as disappointed as I am.”