Fremantle Dockers coach Ross Lyon insists he won't let critics get to him, saying the club's rebuild remains on track despite their disastrous start to the AFL season.
Lyon has copped widespread criticism for fielding too many veterans in the club's opening two losses.
The Dockers were made to pay for sloppy turnovers in their 42-point loss to Geelong in round one, and worse was to come a week later when they copped an 89-point thumping at the hands of Port Adelaide.
Lyon reacted to that round-two loss by making six changes for Saturday's clash with the Western Bulldogs in Perth.
Veteran trio Zac Dawson, Danyle Pearce, and Jon Griffin were among the axings, with their futures at Fremantle looking bleak.
Cameron Sutcliffe, Darcy Tucker, and Nick Suban were also cut.
Talkback radio in Perth was abuzz with disgruntled Fremantle fans this week, with some even claiming the game has bypassed Lyon, and it was time for the 50-year-old coach to move on.
Lyon is contracted until the end of 2020 and he has no plans of putting up the white flag.
"I haven't listened to it," Lyon said of the backlash from fans.
"I didn't listen to it when we were going in to grand finals, and prelims, and playing good footy.
"I don't believe it then and I don't believe it now. It doesn't interest me.
"And talkback radio is the one per cent. I've never validated myself by outside sources, and I don't intend to do it now.
"I challenge myself and I look to grow."
The Dockers have handed debuts to key defender Griffin Logue and midfielder Harley Balic, while Brady Grey, Ethan Hughes, Tom Sheridan, and Hayden Crozer earned recalls.
The Bulldogs have brought in Toby McLean to replace injured forward Stewart Crameri (hip).
The Dockers fielded the third oldest team in round two.
But their six changes this week will mean they'll enter their round-three encounter against with one of the youngest teams.
Lyon was criticised for playing so many older players in the opening two rounds when the club was meant to be at the start of a four-year rebuild.
Lyon said everything was still on track.
"The enthusiasm of youth will be fantastic," Lyon said.
"This is nothing new. It's just continuing on the time line."
Fremantle's sloppy skills haunted them all of last season and it's been a similar theme in 2017.
But Lyon has noticed other problem areas as well.
"We'd like to get our tackle pressure back," Lyon said.
"We're the lowest tackling team in the AFL and we've been losing the ground ball.
"They've always been the staples of our game.
"We'd like to get that back."
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