Fremantle coach Ross Lyon wants Matt Taberner to become more like Hawthorn's Jarryd Roughead, saying the 23-year-old needs to learn the art of rucking in order to boost his selection chances.
Taberner has fallen out of favour at the Dockers after booting just 41 goals in 45 AFL games as a key forward.
Cam McCarthy and Shane Kersten have overtaken Taberner in the forward-line pecking order after arriving via trades during the off-season.
Taberner booted five goals in a big WAFL win last weekend, but it's unlikely to be enough to earn him a gig for Sunday's clash with the Power at Adelaide Oval.
Instead, Lyon wants Taberner to show his ruck wares for WAFL side Peel Thunder.
With Zac Clarke (knee) injured and Jon Griffin no certainty to hold the back-up ruck berth long-term, an opportunity is open for Taberner to squeeze into the team as a pinch-hitting ruckman to support Aaron Sandilands.
"Roughead can do it, he should be able to do it," Lyon said of Taberner.
"He's (199cm) and really mobile.
"But it's a tough contest the ruck. You need to embrace it. He's getting his head around it.
"If he can add that string to his bow, it's going to be easier to pick him, rather than just being judged as a specialist forward."
The pressure is on Kersten to hold his spot after an underwhelming pre-season campaign and a poor first-up display against Geelong in round one.
Kersten tallied just seven disposals and failed to register a point against his former side.
But Lyon is adamant Kersten won't be given the boot just yet.
"Do you just execute people on one performance? That's never really been what I've done," Lyon said.
"You can't head down to Hay street and buy confidence can you?
"There's no confidence shop. Confidence is out on the track. So he'll work hard. We have faith in him. We'll back him in."
Lyon ruled out making wholesale changes to his side despite the disappointing 42-point loss to Geelong.
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