First came the cliches, but later came the real emotion from Ross Lyon as the Fremantle AFL coach put football and life into perspective.
Lyon’s side burst out of the blocks in their season-opener against Collingwood on Friday night at Etihad Stadium as the Dockers claimed a 70-point win, 17.14 (116) to 5.16 (46).
Fremantle’s mentor was asked if the pain of last year’s grand-final loss to Hawthorn had been eased by a good start to the new season.
“It was really important to get some momentum by getting a win on the board early,” Lyon said.
When pressed further about last season, Lyon said losing a football match wasn’t the end of the world.
The death of Adelaide assistant coach and former Melbourne mentor Dean Bailey on Tuesday morning, aged 47, has hit Lyon hard.
“You know what? In 1984 I went with Dean Bailey to Ireland with the Victorian schoolboys’ side, with Garry Lyon and Steve Silvagni and those guys,” Lyon said, as he glanced at his black arm band.
“Dean Bailey was a part of that, and he has lost his life to cancer.
“We have all been affected by it.
“It is (only) a grand final loss. Those things tend to sober you up.
“In my world, footy is really important, but we are not sitting around feeling sorry for ourselves.”
Surprisingly, Fremantle had trailed 2.4 to 2.3 at quarter-time against the youthful Magpies’ lineup, who sent seven-game players Brodie Grundy and Jarrod Witts into battle against triple All-Australian ruckman Aaron Sandilands.
The 211cm Sandilands dominated his inexperienced but energetic rivals.
However it was Fremantle’s wave after wave of midfield runners that overwhelmed the Magpies, who broke a 10-year record for their lowest-ever score against Fremantle.
The previous lowest was 7.12 (54).
Collingwood kicked three goals to Fremantle’s 15 after quarter-time.
Hayden Ballantyne booted a game-high three goals, but it was the brilliant second-quarter performance of midfielder Nat Fyfe that sparked the Dockers.
Reigning club champion Fyfe was taken off with cramp and was rested from the final term, but still managed 20 possessions including 15 contested, one goal and nine clearances plus a spectacular mark.
“He did play very well. Everyone contributed but he was significant,” Lyon said.
Fremantle host Gold Coast on March 29 in round two.
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley, who also wore a black arm band in honour of Bailey, said he didn’t see a 70-point loss coming at quarter-time.
“We played the grand finalists from last year and we got pantsed in the last three quarters,” Buckley said.
“Through the middle quarters, we were slaughtered.”
Buckley said midfielder Dayne Beams and first-gamer Tom Langdon in defence were two of Collingwood’s better players.
Injured forwards Jesse White and Ben Reid are likely to return for Collingwood’s round-two clash with Sydney at ANZ Stadium on March 29.