Fremantle midfielder Andrew Brayshaw has praised the way Ross Lyon is handling the hysteria surrounding his future, saying the veteran coach is taking it “like a champ”.
Wild speculation about Lyon’s future has dominated AFL headlines in recent weeks.
The rumours have been wide and varied.
Some suggest there are powerful figures within Fremantle’s hierarchy that want Lyon gone.
Others have linked Lyon to a sensational return to St Kilda or the vacant position at Carlton.
Lyon is contracted to Fremantle until the end of 2020 and reiterated this week he was keen to see that deal to the end.
Brayshaw has formed a close relationship with Lyon since being snared by Fremantle with pick No.2 in the 2017 national draft.
The 19-year-old said Lyon has been a calming influence on the player group following wild rumours.
“He takes it in his stride. He takes it like a champ,” Brayshaw said.
“Seeing some of the stuff that gets said about him – to be here and still have a smile on his face it’s really big from him.
“Being a coach of a WA football club you have to ride the highs and the lows.
“Over the last month he’s been copping a fair bit of stick. But I don’t think the group’s confidence has wavered at all.
“Last week he came to us and said, ‘No matter what’s going on boys, I’m here and I’m really confident in the group moving forward, and don’t read into it’.
“He instils us with confidence that he’s 100 per cent committed to the team.”
Lyon has built a reputation of being a unrelenting taskmaster during his 13-year coaching career.
But he has developed a softer side in recent years, making a concerted effort to spend more time outside of club hours with the team’s younger players.
“He’s a great coach and also a great mentor,” Brayshaw said.
“Myself personally, I just caught up with him the other day. I went into his office and I was in there for an hour just having a chat with him.
“He really does work on building those personal connections with his players. He’s more than just a coach.”
Fremantle (8-9) kept their finals hopes alive with a scrappy one-point win over Sydney last week.
They’ll need to beat the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Sunday to stay in the hunt for a top-eight berth.
Skipper Nat Fyfe is expected to return from an infected elbow, but doubts surround the availability of Rory Lobb (shoulder) and Nathan Wilson (foot).