The senior coach couldn’t help but be impressed with what he witnessed, as the Hawks, powered by inspirational skipper Luke Hodge and Lance Franklin, ran all over Collingwood by 55 points at the MCG.
Lyon was casting no illusions as to the challenge that awaited Freo.
“It was the ‘Buddy show’ and the ‘Hodge show’,” he said on Channel 7 on Tuesday night.
“It’s a massive challenge against Hawthorn.
“We want to go down to Launceston and put our best foot forward.”
As the best match-up for Franklin, champion defender Luke McPharlin would be a key component of Freo’s plans to defeat the 2012 runners-ups.
But his availability is uncertain after he was knocked out of the Essendon game by an early Patrick Ryder bump.
Lyon said Freo had to take a cautious approach with its All Australian full-back.
“It is a concern, particularly in today’s climate with the respect for concussion and the understanding of it,” he said.
“He’ll undergo the appropriate tests and, if he clears that, he’ll play, but we won’t know for certain until the end of the week.”
Following his side’s dramatic four-point loss to the Bombers on Friday night, Lyon chose to take an optimistic view of the season to-date.
“We’re taking an approach that the glass is half full,” he said.
“We’re doing a lot right and, mentally, if we get rid of the lapses, we’re going to be a very good football team.”
