AS THE fallout from Fremantle's disastrous 2016 season continues, coach Ross Lyon has refuted suggestions he was less than truthful about his knowledge of Hayden Ballantyne's desire to leave Fremantle.
And Lyon, who is contracted until the end of 2020, says he is comfortable with his coaching style despite a "loud minority" putting "individual agendas" ahead of the club.
But the 72-point loss to Adelaide at Domain Stadium on Sunday has been overshadowed by the events of the week, in which 2014 All Australian Ballantyne requested a trade to West Coast, Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe said he would assess all free agency options for 2018 and beyond, development coach Peter Sumich left the club by "mutual agreement" and president Steve Harris announced he was standing down as president in a pre-planned move.
The defeat was the Dockers' seventh successive loss and their 17th of the season overall.
Lyon said he was comfortable with his coaching style despite the rumblings around the club.
"I see this as an opportunity. There's always a loud minority, and there's always people prepared to listen to a loud minority, Lyon said.
"But for me, I just want to continue to be the coach that Matthew Pavlich wanted his whole career. I'm pretty comfortable with that.
"That's what he wrote in his book, didn't he? I'm the coach that he always hoped for. I'm pretty comfortable continuing in that vein. It's not a bad spot to be."
Goal 699 from Matthew Pavlich was very nice! #AFLFreoCrows https://t.co/ozlz1zR56b
— AFL (@AFL) August 14, 2016
Five talking points: Fremantle v Adelaide
Lyon went into great detail to explain the Ballantyne situation. On Friday morning he was asked about Ballantyne's request for a trade and Lyon said at the time, "I deal in facts, so I don't have any facts on that to help you."
On Sunday night, Lyon said he had had a conversation with Ballantyne, where the small forward asked about his next contract, "a three-year deal", and not specifically about a trade.
Lyon told Ballantyne that it was between Ballantyne's manager Colin Young and the Dockers' list manager Brad Lloyd.
"That's how I responded and then people inferred that I lied about that, which I'm not thrilled about," Lyon said.
"But clearly in the background Hayden's manager has then late this week, and even as late as Friday, gone and put some things forward to the club that we've now all become aware of. That's the exact situation."
Hayden Ballantyne sold some serious candy and then finished off a very tough goal! #AFLFreoCrows https://t.co/sZOShPAOHU
— AFL (@AFL) August 14, 2016
Lyon also said that if Fyfe had his time again he would probably reconsider what he said about assessing his options given the speculation it fuelled.
Lyon also said that Sumich was unlikely to be at the club next year regardless of the situation.
WATCH: Ross Lyon's full post-match press conference
"Peter went to head of development, was moved to head of development, an opportunity," Lyon said.
"(With) all the challenges, it was probably unlikely that Peter was going to be with us, to be truthful.
"Some people say he was pushed, some say he has left. At the end of the day, it's a moot point."
Lyon said he was looking forward to the challenge of improving the Dockers' football over the next couple of weeks and said he had told his playing and coaching group that regardless of the noise from the "loud minority" they needed to put it to one side and deal with it at the end of the season.