Fremantle coach Ross Lyon believes the exposure of younger players to AFL football in the past season places the club in a strong position ahead of 2017.
Speaking in front of 1000 guests in Crown’s Grand Ballroom on Saturday night, Lyon said watching the young brigade develop was a positive from the season.
“Over a 14 week period all our members and fans and coaching staff and everyone involved saw them grow,” he said.
“The development of these young players will help us significantly in 2017.”
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The return of injured leaders and a strong trade period, combined with the development of the younger members of the team, will position the club for a good 2017.
“We also believe the return of injured bona fide team drivers like (Nathan) Fyfe, (Michael) Johnson, (Aaron) Sandilands, Alex Pearce and Harley Bennell, complimented with a strategic trade period will see great possibilities for us moving forward into 2017 and beyond,” Lyon said.
Lyon, who is contracted at Fremantle until 2020, believes the team strayed from its core ideals in a difficult campaign.
“There is no doubt 2016, and we discussed this in the leadership group, we moved too far from what we value and lost our identity as a team,” he said
“Our belief is we will reline to our values and embrace the possibility mind set that anything is possible and we will pursue excellence as has been done so successfully in the past.”
Lyon praised the resilience of the playing squad for embracing the challenge of a poor season, acknowledging the difficulty of the test.
“When challenged the measure is how we respond and embrace the club,” he said.
“There is no room for precious individuals and I thought we passed this test, especially with a lot of outside noise.”
With several club favourites departing, Lyon took the opportunity to thank them for their service over the years in an emotional farewell.
“I would like to sing loud to Tendai Mzungu, Matt de Boer, Clancee Pearce and Matthew Pavlich for the last five years,” he said.
“They leave with all the respect and inspiration I can muster.
“It’s really hard to say goodbye.”
Retiring President Steve Harris was also thanked for his unwavering support during Lyon’s tenure.
“He was always present on the longest road-trips, he was always down in Tassie with the club,” he said.
“Put simply, he made me walk taller, he is a really strong leader.”
