How will Dockers fans respond to Ross the Boss?

Justin Chadwick | June 28, 2025

It’s been six years in the waiting but Fremantle fans will finally get the chance to see Ross Lyon in the flesh again when the Dockers take on St Kilda in Perth on Sunday.

Lyon received a standing ovation from Dockers fans when he guided Fremantle to an upset 34-point win over Geelong in round 20, 2019 at Optus Stadium.

But the veteran coach was axed just two games later despite having a year left on his contract.

Lyon remains Fremantle’s most successful coach, having led the club to four finals series and a grand-final appearance in 2013 during his eight years in charge.

Despite his at-times frosty relationship with the media, Lyon was generally well loved by Fremantle supporters.

Whether that love remains will be put to the test on Sunday when Lyon strides onto Optus Stadium as coach of St Kilda.

Although Lyon has coached the Saints at Optus Stadium three times over the past three years, they were all against West Coast.

Fremantle fans have a track record of being a sentimental bunch.

Former Dockers coach Mark Harvey, who was sacked in 2011 in a move that stunned the football world, received a standing ovation and a big round of applause from the purple faithful when he made his first return to Perth as an assistant coach with Brisbane in 2012.

Fremantle fans may not be as kind to Lyon though, especially given the veteran coach masterminded a 61-point win over the Dockers at Marvel Stadium in round eight.

The Saints won the clearance battle 50-22 and the inside 50m count 61-34 that night in what was arguably the ugliest loss under coach Justin Longmuir’s reign.

Fremantle (9-5) have since rocketed back into the top-four conversation on the back of five consecutive wins, but the ghosts from their loss to St Kilda are still at the forefront of their mind.

Star Dockers duo Caleb Serong (15 disposals) and Andrew Brayshaw (18 disposals) were nullified that night, and the duo are bracing to be tagged again.

Saints tagger Marcus Windhager looms as enemy No.1 for Fremantle, especially in the wake of his controversial shut-down role on Collingwood star Nick Daicos last week.

Windhager was fined for striking Daicos and the incident in which he kneed his opponent’s hamstring was also heavily criticised.

Tagging tactics have been a big talking point this week, but Longmuir doesn’t see what the fuss is about.

“I find it staggering at times that one match-up gets blown out of the water,” Longmuir said.

“Tagging goes on in most games most weeks. Windhager has been doing it for two or three years.

“Our players have been tagged multiple times this year. We tagged (Essendon midfielder Zach) Merrett last time we were out.

“It’s part of our game. We embrace it.”