Port Adelaide's run-and-stun game left Richmond for dead, but Fremantle coach Ross Lyon is confident his team won't suffer a similar fate in Saturday night's semi-final showdown at Patersons Stadium.
The Power produced one of the finest first-quarter displays of finals football on the way to a 57-point demolition of Richmond on Sunday, with the scoreboard reading 43-0 after just 18 minutes.
A fortnight earlier, Port Adelaide inflicted similar damage on Carlton in a 103-point mauling.
Lyon is more than aware of the Power's running strengths, but he has come up with a simple way to overcome them.
"Everyone wants to talk about footy in abstract terms and tactics and strategies," Lyon said.
"That's not what gets it done. Let's be really clear on that.
"Men win footy games - men who put their head over the ball, men who give great effort.
"That's what gets it done.
"It's about who doesn't fumble, who doesn't drop the mark, who sticks the tackle.
"Port demolished Carlton. They demolished Richmond. But we'd like to think we're a different proposition than Carlton or Richmond.
"We feel we've got all the mechanisms to handle what they throw at you, but in saying that you've got to bring that to life."
Lyon said it would take exceptional circumstances for goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne to play against the Power.
Ballantyne underwent surgery on Monday after breaking his jaw for a second time this year, and Lyon said he didn't want to put the 27-year-old's future at risk by playing him too early.
"He'll want to try to play, but I've got a duty of care," Lyon said.
"We'll give him all week (to prove his fitness). But the intention is to look after Hayden.
"We're about the bigger picture here as well, not just sacrificing our players for a short-term gain. He's really important to us."
However, Lyon is more optimistic about the chances of star midfielder Michael Barlow, who was forced to wear a moon boot on Monday after injuring his foot in last week's loss to Sydney.
"He's pretty confident he'll play," Lyon said.
"Was it stomped on? I don't know exactly. He's got a bit of a sore foot. But he was up and about yesterday."
The likely loss of Ballantyne is a huge blow to the Dockers.
Ballantyne has kicked a team-high 49 goals this season, while his frenetic pressure has also created numerous scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Matt de Boer and Nick Suban are in line for recalls, while Hayden Crozier is set to be promoted after wearing the sub's vest last week.
Port Adelaide are hopeful speedster Matt White will recover from his own broken jaw in time to line up against Fremantle.
Share
