Morale is still high among the Fremantle playing group despite a disappointing 2016 campaign, according to senior coach Ross Lyon.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Carlton Draught Derby against West Coast, Lyon said his, and the team’s focus, remained firmly on salvaging what they could from the final four rounds.
“I’m firmly focused on the job at hand,” Lyon said.
“We had a wonderful meeting yesterday where we did something different and we built on (the players’) enthusiasm and tried to keep them vibrant.
“There’s certainly plenty of things to be gained.”
Lyon said there were positives to work with ahead of next year.
“Within some of the wreck we see some really good signs,” he said.
“Sometimes we’ll have exactly what we want set up in front.
Tickets still available for Sunday’s Carlton Draught Derby
“We’ll have our talls, we’ll have options, we’ll have uncontested ball.
“Sometimes it’s decision-making – we’ll go to a short 50-50 when we had to take the free play or the longer option.
“In a real sense we’ve got some good shape and options but we’ve just got to learn to use that a bit better.
“We’re certainly not giving up on where we’re heading and even within the Sydney game, there were some opportunities and some good ball movement.
“We’ve just got to persist and persevere with that.”
Fremantle faces a sixth-placed West Coast side vying for a home elimination final.
While Lyon’s team is out of finals contention in 16th place, he said the team was still excited to play their cross-town rivals on Sunday.
“It’s our home derby and we’re passionate,” he said.
“There’s been a history of teams and derbies where the ladder position has been quite contrasting, so therefore ladder positions have always been irrelevant.
Ballantyne set to take on West Coast
“It’s about within the town – two teams, fierce rivalries and home derbies – and you want to get out there.
“We don’t prepare any differently but there’s that home town rivalry and we’d like to get the result.
“I’m sure our members and fans are as passionate as ever."
Lyon said the senior players had taken onus of motivating their teammates to recognise the importance of playing West Coast, but said it was vital the side balanced expectations alongside all other contests.
“There’s that arousal curve, isn’t there?,” he said.
“You can’t be over, you can’t be under, you’ve just got to find that sweet spot.”
