Lyon: ‘Tanking debate is all garbage’

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says teams do not go out to deliberately lose.

Lyon said on Thursday that the tanking debate is simply "garbage".

The Fremantle coach slammed suggestions that the Dockers are tanking for the No.1 draft pick, with finals now seemingly out of reach.

"At the end of the day, culturally it's really hard to turn it around from (a losing mentality)," Lyon said.

"We want to establish our habits for success in adversity.

"You don't just drift through a year, establish bad habits, and then next year practice great habits. It doesn't work like that.

"You don't flirt with that at all, because it's really difficult (to turn around), and you send confusing and mixed messages to your young players.

"That's why the tanking debate is all garbage."

Lyon said he neither for nor against the idea of a draft lottery, but does not want the rules changed mid season.

"Clearly the rules about the draft and the order were established and put in place before the season started. I would be shocked if they changed now," he said.

Fremantle face Essendon this week at Domain Stadium in Perth.

[polldaddy poll=9434974]