After announcing his contract extension through 2020 last week, Fremantle senior coach Ross Lyon reiterated that the ultimate goal was winning premierships, not popularity contests.

When asked how some players may have reacted to the news of enduring a further five years of high standards and accountability, Lyon told ABC’s Geoff Hutchison that they had better get used to it.

“Well I hope so, because I’m not backing off!” Lyon laughed. 

Talking points ahead of Geelong

Lyon said while forging positive relationships was still a point of emphasis, being liked was never at the forefront of his coaching philosophy. 

“I try and build healthy relationships and my door is always open,” he said.

“But I don’t want them all to like me, that’s not what interests me.

“We want to be successful.” 

For Lyon, the foundation of a successful club can be boiled down to one word that he reveres greatly, ‘Respect’.

“It’s about being respected,” he said 

“Respect the position, respect the club and then you earn respect by the way you go about it.”