Young Dockers please coach Lyon

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon is delighted at the progress his young players are showing and hopes their confident play will continue over the second half of the AFL campaign.

Opening the season with ten consecutive defeats hastened the team’s transition and in back-to-back victories, albeit over Essendon and the Brisbane Lions, some of his younger players have been outstanding

Midfielders Lachie Weller and Connor Blakely were particularly impressive in the 83-point victory over the Lions on Saturday, with first-year player Darcy Tucker and Tanner Smith, in his opening game of the year, also putting in solid shifts.

“It was pleasing they were leading a lot of our possessions stats,” Lyon said.

“(Hayden) Crozier has continued to blossom at half back and Tankard Smiths worked hard for an opportunity.

“He had some issues to work through with his body and hes competed.

Forward Matt Taberner kicked a career-high five goals in what Lyon agreed was his best performance of his 38-game career.

“That’s been coming for a while,” Lyon said.

The forwards worked really hard and they had some good supply.

Lyon expects these players to go through hard times as competition gets tougher but feels the boost from these performances will ready them for the harder times ahead.

“We know there are going to be some ups and downs,” Lyon said.

“We just work hard, try to take care of the next moment and improve.

“Confidence comes from action. They’ll get some confidence and understanding of what were asking them to do.

“If they can execute that it will stand them in pretty good stead.

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