Fremantle senior coach Ross Lyon says Tendai Mzungu has found himself in and out of the AFL side due to bad luck and performance.

The versatile 29-year-old has played only three AFL games in 2015 after missing just one in 2014.

Lyon told 6PR’s Sports Today on Monday that an early season injury had hampered Mzungu’s ability to lock down a spot in the starting 22.

“You can be unlucky,” he said.

“He had a really good summer and when the whips started cracking he got injured.

“Everyone’s grabbed their spot and played really good football.

“Tommy Sheridan has grabbed the spot and consolidated.”

Mzungu was recalled to the side to play Hawthorn in Launceston in Round 15, after solid performances for Peel Thunder in the WAFL, but was omitted from the side to play Carlton on Saturday night.

“In Tassie there were some parts of his game that weren’t at the top of his game with and without the ball,” Lyon said.

“We picked a team to play Carlton, we made four changes and we feel we got it right.

“We felt everyone contributed.”