Saints coach Lyon on guard for ‘enemy’ Fyfe

Saints coach Lyon on guard for ‘enemy’ Fyfe

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon can be viewing Fremantle veteran Nat Fyfe because the enemy when the 2 associates lock horns at Marvel Stadium.

Fyfe and Lyon loved a particular relationship throughout their captain-coach time collectively at Fremantle.

Lyon was axed by the Dockers on the finish of 2019, and his second tenure at St Kilda begins this Sunday with a grudge match towards his previous membership.

Fyfe received his second Brownlow medal in Lyon’s final 12 months in cost at Fremantle, however accidents have cruelled his profession since then.

The 31-year-old relinquished the captaincy over the summer time – some say he was pushed – and he is additionally been squeezed out of the midfield combine.

But underestimate Fyfe at your peril.

He produced a sequence of dazzling shows over the pre-season as a everlasting ahead, and it is undoubtedly caught the eye of Lyon.

“I’m thinking Nathan, you still want to get in that midfield,” Lyon joked.

“He was a very special player in my tenure there and will always be special, but come Sunday he’s the enemy, right?

“We’re making an attempt to take him out.”

The Dockers have named a tall forward line that will feature Fyfe, Matt Taberner, Josh Treacy, and either Sean Darcy or Luke Jackson as the resting ruckman.

Former Hawk Jaeger O’Meara will make his Dockers debut in the midfield, while Michael Walters (Achilles) will return via a WAFL practice match.

The Saints have a 14-strong injury list and enter Sunday’s match as underdogs.

Max King, Tim Membrey, Nick Coffield, Jack Billings, and Zak Jones are among the walking wounded.

First-round draftee Mattaes Phillipou and Anthony Caminiti have been named for their AFL debuts, while off-season recruits Liam Stocker and Zaine Cordy will also play.

Fremantle only narrowly missed out on fourth spot last year and they are aiming to land an elusive flag in 2023.

“They’re a growth crew of the west. They’ll be coming over with an enormous expectation to win,” Lyon stated.

“We’re a bit depleted. They performed finals final 12 months they usually’ll have grown they usually’ve recruited – Jackson is highly effective.

“Their build has been going for six or seven years, so they’re almost at full bottle.

“It’s a giant problem.”

Source: www.perthnow.com.au