The Carlton Draught derby on Saturday will no doubt be the talk of the West Australian football community and Fremantle senior coach Ross Lyon said he would embrace the chance to see how his players perform under the pressure.
 
“We know the game will be dissected within an inch of its life and there’s nowhere to hide,” Lyon said.
 
“As coaches, you like your players to be in fierce cauldrons and see how they stand up under the scrutiny and perform under pressure.
 
“That’s what separates elite teams.”

Match preview v West Coast
 
The level of attention the game will receive is a reflection of how important the Freo/West Coast rivalry is to WA footy fans, and was a fact that was not lost on Lyon.
 
“What it’s really important for is the members, fans and the town,” he said.
 
“They want those bragging rights come Monday morning.
 
“It’s something we can all sink our teeth into.”
 
Despite the increased attention, due to the animosity between the teams and the perceived added pressure of Freo’s winless start to 2016, Lyon said his the playing group wouldn’t approach the game any differently.
 
“There’s two teams in the town, but for us, we have to prepare consistently and not go off on a tangent,” he said.

In the mix: round three
 
“Worrying about the outcome and potential ramifications doesn’t get it done.
 
“It’s round three, there are no extra points or extra reward, and worrying about losing isn’t going to get it done.
 
“It’s the Derby and history tells you that no matter where you are on the ladder, how many games you’ve won, they’re fierce contests and you have to do everything right to cross the line.
 
Lyon’s approach to Carlton Draugh derby has been effective, having won six of eight appearances against the Eagles in his tenure as Freo senior coach.