ROSS Lyon says a reformed Michael Walters could captain Fremantle one day after turning his career around.

The small forward was banished to the WAFL not long after Lyon arrived to coach the club at the end of 2011.

Walters had turned up to pre-season training unfit and overweight, and was facing what Lyon called his "footy mortality" after falling to his "lowest ebb".

Match preview: First Qualifying Final, Fremantle v Sydney Swans

But Walters took control of his life, to the point where the coach didn't recognise him after he lost nine kilos in the space of a few months, and was called up to play for the Dockers in round 16, 2012 from where he didn't look back.

"It's just so gratifying to see someone who has worked incredibly hard to have grown so much to the point where he could captain our football club," Lyon told the AFL Website in a video titled, Michael Walters’ Chase for Redemption.

"As a senior coach, when you see young men grow and come through the end and start to get some rewards for all of their effort, it does make you feel really good."

Lyon said he initially doubted whether Walters could maintain his renewed approach to his fitness and football, having not shown sustained commitment before.

But ahead of this year's finals series, Lyon said he believed the best was in front of Walters now he has settled off the field with a fiancée, two children and having purchased a second house.

"Over a three-and-a-half year period he's been able to sustain the chase," Lyon said.

"He's an incredible trainer, he's one of our real on-field leaders and when we're under pressure, like in the 2013 Grand Final … he's only 174cm and we put him to full forward, he takes a huge mark and kicks a clutch goal.

"Under pressure, Michael can really perform."