Fremantle coach Ross Lyon won't stand for the Freo Dockers letting their dismal 2016 season peter out, saying his team should look at the last seven rounds as an opportunity to set up success.
Fremantle lost to Melbourne by 32 points at TIO Stadium on Saturday night. They outscored the Dees after half-time but were all but out of the game by the opening change by which time Melbourne had a 29-point advantage.
With three wins after 15 games, Lyon said Fremantle should be spurred to finish the season as well as possible after dropping from the top-four last year.
"I expect [their motivation levels] to be as high as they possibly can. You can't be defined by results. They don't give you success and then say 'Get motivated and work hard'. You've got to start without any guarantees," Lyon said.
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"You've got to do the work, take the emotional risk to train hard and compete hard and start on the journey of improvement. That's how it's done. No one walks a [premiership] cup in and says 'Here's a cup, now get your enthusiasm levels high and become a dedicated group, learn and harden up'.
"It doesn't work like that. You've got to do everything first and then success follows. Our players should understand that – I'm pretty sure they do – but if they don't we'll help them, and all of us have got to do the work."
Lyon admitted the Freo Dockers "couldn't get near" the Demons in the first half, and that his midfield unit, without stars Nat Fyfe and Aaron Sandilands, continues to get "obliterated".
Veteran on-baller Michael Barlow (finger) is expected to be available next week against Geelong, however, after being ruled out of facing the Demons.
Lyon said if the Freo Dockers were to lift their performance – against the Cats and beyond as they start their long-term rebuild plan – it would have to "come from within".
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"I'm as enthusiastic and as frustrated as I've been, because some of the stuff I probably haven't experienced before. I'm working through that and I'm sure the club are," Lyon said.
"The job as coach is to remain vibrant. It's got to be an uncomfortable environment, and we're comfortable with being uncomfortable. We've got to challenge and hold to account, but with a view to learning. That's the environment we're in.
"It's been pretty healthy. It has some challenges are innate, but nothing that can't be worked through. Plenty of clubs have been in this position and haven't fractured. We've started the journey of improvement and need to continue it."
Fremantle might also head into next week's meeting with the Cats without skipper David Mundy, who failed a concussion test after a head knock against the Demons.
Lyon said the club was hopeful the 30-year-old would be available "but [there's] no guarantee”.
