Lyon thrilled as Pearce becomes a surprise hit
AAP/afl.com.au
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says he’s keen to persist with the experiment of using young defender Alex Pearce as a key forward.
Pearce was thrust forward a fortnight ago to partner Matthew Pavlich in attack after Zac Clarke and Matt Taberner failed in the role.
The 20-year-old has managed just two goals in his two games since that time, but he has had seven shots on goal - giving Lyon optimism that better things are to come
Who's in the mix for derby XLII?
Eagles lose top trio as Freo gain favour
The West Australian
West Coast’s hopes of springing a western derby upset and clinging to a top-two berth were dealt savage blows yesterday when three of the club’s biggest names were declared unavailable.
Coach Adam Simpson said the Eagles would need to overcome genuine adversity to engineer their first derby win since 2012 after Nic Naitanui, Jeremy McGovern and Mark LeCras were ruled out of Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash at Domain Stadium.
News of the trio’s outs led to Fremantle firming from $1.72 to $1.48 with the TAB. West Coast drifted to $2.70 and face the prospect of being replaced in second spot by Hawthorn, who play Geelong at the MCG on Saturday night, at the end of the round.
Dilemmas for Lyon, Simpson
The West Australian
Among the many western derby puzzles facing coaches Ross Lyon and Adam Simpson are these: For Lyon, where can he best use Nat Fyfe? For Simpson, where will he be forced to use Elliot Yeo?
Fyfe, the Brownlow Medal favourite, is tipped to return to the midfield on Sunday after a two-week absence.
But while he was gone, the Dockers won stoppages 47-27 against Greater Western Sydney and 37-29 at the weekend against St Kilda. For half a game against the Saints, Fremantle’s ball movement looked back to where it was earlier in the season when they raced to a 9-0 record.
Match Preview: Fremantle v West Coast
Naitanui out, Pavlich in doubt for derby
The West Australian
Grieving West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui has been ruled out of Sunday's western derby, while star Fremantle pair Matthew Pavlich and David Mundy are battling injury ahead of the blockbuster clash.
Naitanui is still in Fiji following the death of his mother, and the 25-year-old has been given the week off to be with his grieving family.
Mystery surrounded the availability of Mundy and Pavlich after they were spotted having scans on Monday.
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon gave little away when asked about the pair's plight at Tuesday's press conference.
But the club later confirmed Pavlich was battling an Achilles tendon complaint, while Mundy has a sore ankle.
Both have been listed as 'tests' on the club's website, but Lyon said they won't play unless they get through the team's second training session on Friday.
