Ross Lyon has lauded Saturday’s Qualifying Final opponents Sydney, calling John Longmire’s men a ‘super team’.
The Fremantle senior coach and captain Matthew Pavlich spoke to the Perth football media ahead of Saturday’s ANZ Stadium clash.
Lyon said Sydney had built a strong team through recruitment and player development.
“They have a powerful front half, the recruitment of (Lance) Franklin and (Kurt) Tippett has been extraordinary for them,” he said.
“Couple that up with (Sam) Reid and (Adam) Goodes and their smalls, it’s really quite powerful.
“Their young players have continued to develop; (Harry) Cunningham, (Jake) Lloyd is in there, (Dean) Towers has been playing and the continued development of (Luke) Parker.
“(Lewis) Jetta is back up and playing well, the usual suspects down back and (Mike) Pyke has continued to grow, and they’ve got really strong leadership.
“They’re really a complete team in a lot of ways.”
Most questions from the media pertained to how Freo’s defence would handle the Swans’ talls without Michael Johnson and Luke McPharlin.
Lyon said defender Alex Silvagni would definitely come in after he was a late withdrawal from the game against Port Adelaide last weekend.
But he said the game would be won and lost in the midfield.
“That’s what I believe every week,” Lyon said.
“Supply opportunity and limit opportunity, it’s going to be about team defence, it’s going to be about pressure.”
Pavlich agreed with his senior coach. He said the Freoforward line’s good run of form was reliant on other areas of the field.
“We are a by-product of what happens up the field and the mids have been doing a terrific job ofgetting it in our forward half and giving us an opportunity,” he said.
Freo’s captain spent a couple of ball-ups in last week’s game against the Power in the midfield.
He said he didn’t expect to see much more time on the ball.
“It was nice to be in there for a couple of centre bounces, but there’s no risk of it being a long-term role,” Pavlich said.
Freo will regain superstar midfielder Nat Fyfe, who Lyon said was itching to return to action.
“He’s been into my office two or three times just talking about how keen he is and that he’s set himself for finals football.
“We’re thrilled to have him back.
“He was on a roll (before suspension), a few best on grounds (and) that form is pretty good.
“He will be fresh, he won’t be sore, he plays a very physical game.”
The match will be played at ANZ Stadium, where Freo has only played once before, in the 2006 Preliminary Final.
Fremantle Oval has been marked out to imitate the 118m width of Saturday’s venue for the team’s training sessions this week.
But Lyon said Freo wasn’t concerned about where it played.
“It’s got grass on it, a few sticks,” he said.
“Big small or medium, we don’t care.”
What Lyon was aware of was the enormity of the challenge ahead against a team that he said was on top of the ladder for a very good reason.
“They’re a super team, Sydney,” he said.
“They’ve got all the boxes ticked, (and) they’re at home.
“It’s a big challenge but one we’re up for and one we’re keen to accept.
“They are going to ask us some serious questions and we are going to ask some serious questions of them.”
