Twenty-five and unders our core

[Ricochet]

http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/2015-02-09/twentyfive-and-unders-our-core-says-lyon?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Ross Lyon has labelled the club’s 25-and-under players as the core of the team.

Veteran stars Matthew Pavlich, Luke McPharlin and Aaron Sandilands are well into their 30s, and external media often reminds its audiences that the club has the oldest list by average age in the AFL.

But Lyon said Freo’s chances of success were not reliant on three players.

"I'm not denying they're important players to us,” he said.

“But if you sat Nat Fyfe, Stephen Hill, Michael Walters, Chris Mayne, Michael Johnson, Lee Spurr, Cam Sutcliffe, Lachie Neale and Zac Clarke down and said ‘You can't win without those three’, they'd probably have a little giggle,” Lyon said.

"Our 25-and-under players are really the core of our team.”

Lyon highlighted the string performances from a number of young players in the club’s finals over the past few seasons.

“Neale had 32 possessions in a final against Port Adelaide. He can play. Sutcliffe is a staple of our back line, and he's played in a grand final, the kid is 21.

“(Hayden) Crozier has played finals, and so have (Tommy) Sheridan and (Matt) Taberner. They're already coming through.”

The Freo coach didn’t forget to mention his superstar 23-year-old midfielder.

“And if Fyfe isn't the best player in the competition, he certainly sits in the top five,” Lyon said.

“He’s emerged as a real leader and is now in our leadership group."