Fremantle coach Ross Lyon is rolling the dice in the Land of the Giants as he tries to snap a worrying four-match AFL losing streak this weekend.
Lyon is under huge pressure to turn around his team’s ailing fortunes and the loss of Nat Fyfe to an infected elbow for Saturday night’s clash with Sydney hasn’t helped his cause.
The Swans are in the midst of a major ruck crisis and Lyon has identified that as an area he can exploit at Optus Stadium.
Lyon has recalled veteran Aaron Sandilands to join Sean Darcy and Rory Lobb in a potent ruck trio.
Lobb, who stands at 206cm, is expected to play most of the match as a forward.
It would leave 211cm Sandilands and the 202cm Darcy to tag team in the ruck for most of the game.
As for Sydney’s ruck resistance?
The bulk of the work will fall to 197cm debutant Hayden McLean, who was snared by Sydney during the pre-season supplemental selection period.
The 20-year-old is set to receive assistance from the 196cm Sam Reid and 195cm defender Aliir Aliir.
It means Sydney’s midfielders will need to try to pick off Fremantle’s ruck taps if they are to at least break even in the stoppages.
Fyfe was forced to spend several days in hospital this week to treat his infected right elbow with antibiotics.
It’s the same elbow Fyfe needed surgery on in February to treat a painful bursa.
The Dockers are hopeful Fyfe will only miss one match.
Lyon is contracted with Fremantle until 2020, but some fans are already calling for his head.
The veteran coach is determined to stick around and is confident his team aren’t far off the pace.
“I know everyone’s talking about the losses. No one is more frustrated and disappointed than me,” Lyon said.
“No one (along with) the players are more invested in this club. It’s our livelihood. We’re professionals.
“We rely on each other under pressure and we need to dig in. So there’s no flippancy here, but I can’t get stuck on it.
“But within the four (losses), in three of them no one can dispute we were in those games right to the end.”
Fremantle (7-9) need to beat Sydney (6-10) to keep their finals hopes alive.
The Swans will again be without star forward Lance Franklin, while veteran Kieren Jack has been dropped.
