Ross Lyon has revealed guidance from a premiership coach after Fremantle's horror 89-point loss to Port Adelaide helped narrow his focus for the Fremantle Dockers' stunning upset win over the Western Bulldogs.
Freo's game style was under the microscope after an ageing line-up fell to the Power in round two, but a rejuvenated and youthful side sprung an ambush on the reigning premiers, winning by 16 points on Saturday night.
It was a remarkable turnaround, with the Freo Dockers moving the ball with speed and precision from half-back through the corridor and looking more dangerous with a smaller forward line.
Speaking post-match, Lyon didn't reveal which premiership coach he spoke to, but he zeroed-in on the midfield battle after the conversation.
"I always say it's won and lost in the midfield – we didn't put much midfield pressure on last week – tonight we put a lot on, we gave our backs an opportunity," Lyon said.
"Someone I respect in the game I spoke to, he said everyone wants to talk about this and talk about that, sometimes it's just working around the ball and the contest a bit fiercer.
"Then your backs look like they can defend, your backs look like they can run. Your forwards look like they're pretty good.
"He was a two-time Grand Final coach and premiership coach, so I thought 'that's a pretty good point'.
Fremantle hunted the Dogs in the opening term, winning the tackle count 14-11, as they burst to a 19-point advantage at the first change.
"We haven't been working as hard as we wanted to around the ball, tackling and pressuring, that's a hallmark of all the good teams – and that fundamental hasn't changed," Lyon said.
Although the visitors hit the front by 14 points at the final change, the youthful Freo side never stopped believing an upset was on the cards and out tackled the Dogs 18-14 in the last term.
"Anything's possible. That's my mantra," Lyon said.
"That was my mantra to the players when I walked in (to the club).
"I didn't walk in inheriting a premiership team, or list, so anything's possible."
Lyon made six changes to Freo's line-up in round three, dropping secondary ruckman Jonathon Griffin among the changes and fielding a smaller attack.
Freo didn’t bring in key forward Matt Taberner, instead opting for a quicker outfit which worried the Dogs for leg speed.
Former skipper David Mundy (two goals) spent long spells in attack and booted the match-sealing goal in the final term, while elevated rookie Brady Grey (one goal) buzzed around the forward 50.
"It tends to, if you're faster and smaller, make you a bit more dangerous," he said.
"It wasn't easy dropping Jonathon Griffin but teams are carrying them – not carrying them – playing two, but we just thought where we're at we wanted to change it up a little bit."
The Freo Dockers jumped from bottom of the ladder following their win, moving up to 12th spot and will face a weakened Melbourne – without Max Gawn, Jordan Lewis and Jesse Hogan - next Saturday at the MCG.
